“Call me in a few days. And Samantha? Be careful. Don’t let them distract you from why you’re there.”
Too late.
“I won’t. I promise.”
I hang up and stare at my phone.
Liar. I’m such a liar.
Robert thinks I’m building trust to gather information, that I’m playing the long game to destroy the Hale family from the inside.
But the truth is I’m not gathering information. I’m falling into bed with them. I’m agreeing to arrangements that would make Robert lose his mind.
I toss my phone onto the nightstand and bury my face in my hands.
What am I doing?
The revenge plan made sense when I hated them. When they were abstract villains who ruined my mother’s life, but now they’re real people. Grant with his rare smiles and the way he looks at me like I matter. Donovan with his sharp mind and sharper wit. Kai with his reckless energy and surprising tenderness.
How do I destroy people I’m starting to care about?
How do I destroy people I’m starting to love?
The thought stops me cold.
No. Not love. I’m not in love with them.
I’m just confused. Overwhelmed. Caught up in the intensity of everything that’s happened.
That’s all this is.
The afternoon passes in a haze.
I try to read but can’t focus. Try to nap but my mind won’t quiet. Try to distract myself with anything that doesn’t involve thinking about tonight.
Because I know what tonight means.
Grant made it clear. All three of them, or none of them. And I agreed.
Which means tonight, everything changes.
Around six, I force myself into the shower. Stand under hot water until my skin turns pink. Shave everything. Moisturize. All the rituals that feel both pointless and essential.
I pull on a simple dress. Dark blue, soft fabric, easy to take off.
Jesus. I’m getting dressed thinking about how easy it will be for them to undress me.
I’m losing my mind.
At seven, I make my way to the private dining room. All three of them are already there.
Grant stands when I enter, that old-fashioned courtesy that shouldn’t be as attractive as it is. “Samantha.”
“Hi.” My voice comes out smaller than I intended.
“Sit.” He pulls out the chair beside his. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
