Page 103 of A Vicious Love

JAMISON

The party took place on the upper deck of the Tideglass Pavilion, a private harbour club built into the eastern cliffs of Harlan.

It was the kind of venue people called relaxed because nobody wore a tie. That was the only relaxed thing about it.

The pavilion stretched over the water in tiers. White linen curtains moved in the summer breeze. Lanterns glowed beneath the deck rails. Low music drifted out from hidden speakers while yachts sat anchored across the harbour.

Men stood in loose circles with sleeves rolled to their elbows and expensive drinks, pretending they had come for the sunset. Every conversation had money under it. Ports. Contracts. Land. Casino licenses. Private routes. Bloodline influence disguised as family updates.

Women wore silk and diamonds that looked effortless because someone else had spent hours making them look that way.

Servers moved between groups carrying champagne, whiskey, and small plates nobody actually ate.

I stood near the outer rail with Marcel and two men from the Corrigan family, listening to a conversation about harbour access.

Or pretending to.

“I can guarantee twelve percent if the eastern route stays under Harlan governance,” Corrigan said.

“No,” I answered.

“No to twelve?”

“No to the conversation.”

Marcel looked at me.

Corrigan hesitated. “Perhaps we could revisit it after dinner.”

“Perhaps you could stop dressing an insult in percentages and expecting me to be grateful.”

His mouth tightened.

Good.

I was not in the mood to be charming.

Marcel stepped in before Corrigan embarrassed himself further. “Send the revised access proposal to my office Monday morning. We’ll review the full route terms.”

Corrigan nodded too quickly. He left with his brother.

Marcel turned to me slowly.

“You’re delightful tonight.”

“I came.”

“That is the lowest possible standard.”

“And yet I met it.”

“You’re drinking too much,” Marcel said. He gave me that brother look again. The one that made me want to throw him off the upper deck and then arrange for a doctor before he hit the rocks.

My glass was empty.

A server appeared before I had to ask.

Good service.