“Jealous, no. But you hanging off my new husband isn’t exactly a good look. There are eyes and ears everywhere, Helena.”
She laughed and leaned both elbows on the back of the bench. “No one will believe that man has eyes for anyone else. In case you missed it, he looks at you like you’re the only person in the room. Hell, maybe even the whole goddamn city.”
There it was, that feeling like the pit of my stomach had fallen to my toes. Of course, I’d noticed because I’d also felt it. For just a moment, I had envisioned that our circumstances were different. That he and I were getting married because it was what we wanted.
Because we were in love.
Living in that reality was easier than the one where my hands were tied, as were his. I wasn’t the woman who followed orders. I gave them, and it killed me that this was the one rule I couldn’t break—one where I had to give up my power and choice.
“Are you ready to get back to the party? Kai is probably fidgeting like a kid, waiting for you. I had to threaten his life to come talk to you.”
As I motioned to get to my feet, Helena put a hand on my forearm. “Hey, Kai is special. Don’t hurt him.”
We locked eyes. There was an unspoken warning in her tone, but the threat was loud and clear. I sent a smirk her way. It was one of the many reasons she and I had always gotten along.
Stab first and ask questions later.
Helena twisted as she got to her feet, but in the next breath, she plopped down beside me again, as if she’d lost her balance, and released a small gasp.
“What’s wrong?”
“I—I,” she stuttered and brought a hand up to her left shoulder, her eyes widening when she looked at the blood streaking her fingers.
“Amalia,” she whispered. “Duck.”
The impact of a silenced bullet hit the stone beside her, sending pieces of rock flying in all directions.
Fuck.
She and I hit the ground and hid behind a stone ledge. Fear gripped me at the realization we were under attack.
“This can’t be happening. We hired extra security. Someone is fucking us over.”
“Well, they ruined my fucking dress and shot me in my goddamn good arm. They’re dead.”
“Agreed,” I said in a hushed voice, conscious that whoever shot at us was still close by. “But we have to go about this with a clear head. The bullet came from over there. If we stay on this side of the wall, we can round the corner and come up behind them.”
Helena held her arm as blood spilled in a steady stream between her tightly clasped fingers. I tore several layers of tulle from my dress and made a tourniquet around her wound.
“Leni, there’s no exit wound. This should help, but I need you to tell me if you start feeling lightheaded.”
“It takes me getting shot for you to care and call me Leni?” Her smile was sincere but tight, the pain getting the best of her.
“Well, my probability of walking out of here is greater with you than not, so don’t get your hopes too high. It’s purely selfish.”
“Noted.”
Panic suddenly set in as realization dawned. If they were here, another group could also attack the reception guests. Had they done so already? Fuck. My parents, Gio.
Kai.
We’d only managed to crawl a few feet when three pairs of heavy boots landed beside us, the barrels of their guns pointed at the top of our heads. Dread snared my heart. Leni was a fierce and skilled fighter, but down one arm.
“I suggest you stay down.”
“Who are you working for?” I asked, not expecting an answer, but I had to try.
“This is one hell of a party. Probably cost a fortune.”
