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The next half hour disappears in a blur of flowers. Cora talks to Scarlett about pricing, which seems unlimited, and then finalizes everything, including the delivery schedule.

“Your wedding is going to be absolutely beautiful,” Cora tells her, sliding a printed invoice across the counter.

“Thank you.” Scarlett smiles, tucking the paperwork into her designer handbag. She checks the time on her phone. “Well, we should get going, but thank you for all of your help today. I can’t wait to see how everything comes together.”

Tommaso and Asher are already waiting outside by the SUV when we step through the front doors.

The afternoon air is warm, the sidewalk crowded with people weaving between cafés and storefronts.

Scarlett bumps my shoulder with hers. “Thank you for today. I’d probably still be standing in front of the roses having an existential crisis if you hadn’t been here.”

A laugh escapes me before I can stop it. “I had fun.”

“So did I.” She reaches the SUV and pauses as Asher opens the door. “I know we only just met, and I’m not entirely sure how long you plan on staying for, but if you’re still around on my wedding day, I’d love for you to come.”

Warmth surges across my chest, spiraling around my heart as a smile blooms across my face. “I’d like that.”

She smiles. “Well, since we’re already in the city, we should grab dinner. There’s this little Italian place a block over that makes the best—”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

“Get down!” Tommaso roars.

In a flurry of movements, Scarlett and I are shoved to the ground beside the SUV. My cheek scrapes against the rough cement, my palms burning from trying to catch myself. Tommaso shields us with his body, pinning us low to the ground while Asher uses the vehicle for cover to shoot at the black SUV speeding past us.

Within seconds, the attackers answer with a barrage of gunfire. Bullets hammer into the SUV, metallic thuds reverberating through the armored frame. People nearby scream, hiding behind whatever they can find. The black SUV swerves down a corner, disappearing out of sight.

My entire body trembles with adrenaline, every breath shallow and ragged. My heart pounds so violently it drowns out almost everything else, leaving only the piercing ring in my ears. My limbs refuse to obey me, locked in place as shock settles deep beneath my skin. I can’t move.

I can’t even think.

All I know is…

Someone just tried to kill us.

But who?

Chapter twelve

Alex

My fingers fly across the keyboard as I enter the credentials needed to breach the security system at Flower Me This. Charlotte, Scarlett, and their guards should be arriving any…

Bingo.

The front door swings open, and Scarlett steps inside, followed by Charlotte with her baseball cap pulled low and oversized glasses hiding most of her face. Her gaze stays fixed on the floor as they step forward.

“Welcome, Mrs. Alarie.” A woman behind the counter steps aside and approaches them with a bright smile. “I’m Cora. It’s so lovely to meet you.”

“Thank you for having us this afternoon,” Scarlett says, returning her smile. “And thank you for your discretion.”

An email from the research lab lands in my inbox, and I quickly click on it, my eyes scanning every word of the report. My stomach sinks.

“Merda.” I drag my fingers through my hair and grab my phone out of my pocket, pressing Vin’s name.

“What?” he answers.

I remove my glasses and rub my eyes, leaning back in my chair. “I don’t have the best news for you.”