Page 26 of The Devil's Deceit

“It’s addressed to you. I… I don’t know.” She hands it to me.

I frown. “To me? But why would anything be sent here for me? I don’t live—” The answer slams into me at a hundred miles an hour.

Christian.

It has to be him. He’s the only person who believes I live here.

I yank down the zipper to reveal a lavender, floor-length evening gown. The material feels soft as silk. I check out the label. Oh, my God. It’s Dior.Christian Dior.That’s not a mistake. He’s sending a message. As I peel off the bag, a black velvet box falls on the floor. I pick it up, my gaze flipping between the dress in my left hand and a box that looks suspiciously like it contains jewelry in the other.

“I told him I didn’t have a dress,” I murmur, dumbfounded.

“And in true billionaire style, he sends you a designer number from Dior.” Juliet runs her hand over the dress. “What’s in the box?”

“I don’t know.” Carefully, I lay the dress over the back of the couch and open the box. “Holy fuck.”

Juliet peers over my shoulder. “Whoa. That must’ve been some fucking kiss, babe. Are those diamonds?”

“I-I’m not sure.” Lying inside the box on lavender velvet that’s an exact match for the dress is a sparkling choker, a matching bracelet, and a pair of stud earrings. Tucked into a ribbon is a white envelope with my name on it. “Cubic zirconia?” I lift an eyebrow in query.

“Yeah, sure. One of the richest men in the world buys imitation diamonds. I bet they’re real. What’s the note say?”

I set the box down on the arm of the couch and slide my nail under the envelope. Inside is a cream embossed card with the De Vil logo in the top right-hand corner, and black scrawl underneath.

A gown and jewels fit for a Lady. Saturday can’t come soon enough. My driver will pick you up at seven o’clock. C.

My knees wobble, and I sink onto the couch. “These must’ve cost… I don’t even know how much.”

“More than a mil, I’d guess.”

My jaw unhinges. “Surely not?”

Juliet rubs her lips together. “Babe, whatever you did with your tongue has that boy hooked.”

“This is too much. I have to send them back.”

“You’ll do no such thing,” Juliet says, outraged. “He sent you a gift, and you’re gonna accept it. When all this is over, you can sell those diamonds and live well for the rest of your life. Call it payment for his crimes.”

I shake my head. “That’s not me. I’m in this for the truth, not the money. I’ll return them to him after Saturday.”

“And the dress?”

I finger the fabric. “I’ll wear the dress, only because I don’t want to draw attention to myself by wearing the same one. But just the once. Then I’ll have it dry-cleaned and returned as well.”

“God, you’re so bad at this. I’d fleece that man for every penny. It’s notlike he’d miss it.”

“I’m only dating him for as long as it takes me to find out what really happened to Mum and Dad. As soon as I do that, I’m out of there.”

She arches a brow. “And you think he’s going to just let you walk out of his life?” She sits beside me and picks up my hand. “Babe, I want you to reconsider the diamonds. When this is over, you’re going to need to disappear for a while, and you’ll need cash to do that.”

“Disappear? What are you talking about?”

“He’s aDe Vil, Gracie. Once he realizes he’s been connedandexposed, you think he’s just gonna go ‘fair cop’, and let you swan out the door without facing the consequences?”

Ice slithers into my veins. We’ve been so busy planning how to infiltrate one of the richest families in the world and uncover the truth that what happensafterthat is a part of the plan we haven’t nailed down. Juliet is right. When I confront him and he realizes he’s been played, he’s going to want revenge. Having enough money to lie low for a while isn’t a bad idea. Despite that, though, I hate the idea of usinghismoney to ensuremysafety. Problem is, I don’t have any of my own. Still doesn’t sit right with me, though.

“I hate it when you bring logic to the table.”

She grins, shoulder bumping me. “You’re welcome. So, you’ll keep the diamonds?”