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Ben is waiting for us and opens the car door as we approach. I help her in, then follow after her.

The wedding ceremony is short. Very short. Roughly thirty minutes.

I watch Grace the whole time. Her expression shifts subtly as she takes in the ceremony, awe and longing moving across her face.

I can’t quite pin her down. She seems so sincere and genuine. Which only makes it worse, because I know she’s a fucking liar.

When Vanya kisses my new sister-in-law, the small crowd of family and friends erupts, and Grace’s face breaks into a wide, brilliant smile, her eyes glinting suspiciously.

Are those tears? Is she for real? She doesn’t even know them.

She glances at me in the middle of it all, her smile widening when she finds me already looking, her face softening the slightest bit. If I didn’t know her real name and job, that look would have fooled me into thinking she’s genuinely interested in me. But I know she has an ulterior motive. I just don’t know what.

What does this little minx want with me? And how the hell did she get through my security checks?

A personal request for an expo invitation is standard protocol, but my security team vets every attendee—she would have had to pass that process, which she couldn’t have done alone. Who helped her?

I’ll find out soon. Very soon.

My insides tighten with anticipation. She must read my thoughts because her smile fades, and my chest immediately pangs with disappointment. God, she has a pretty smile.

Someone tugs on my arm, forcing my attention away from her.

It’s Luka.

“It’s time,” he says, nodding toward the door. “Family photos with the happy couple.”

I toss one last lingering glance at Grace, then follow him and my brothers out. Mom and Mira join us, and the next few minutes are a blur of being positioned and repositioned for photographs before we’re finally let go. Then we walk Melani and Vanya out toward the main entrance, where a small crowd of guests is waiting to cheer their goodbyes.

Melani hugs everyone—me included—while Vanya waits behind her, impatience practically radiating off him. I wiggle a brow in his direction, and his lips flatten, which only makes me chuckle. Once the last goodbye is said, they both slip into Vanya’s car, and within seconds, they’re gone.

“Let’s get this party started!” someone shouts, and the wedding planner steps forward, ushering everyone back into the event hall where the ceremony took place. There’s no formal reception, just a small after-party for guests to eat, drink, and mingle before leaving.

“Who is she?” Mom materializes beside me, and I follow her line of sight to where Grace stands alone near the wall, right hand clasped over her left, a forlorn expression on her face as she stares off into the distance.

She looks lonely. Sad. It makes my chest hurt. So I look away.

“She’s no one,” I say curtly, not wanting her to dig into it.

“You brought a ‘no one’ to Vanya’s wedding?” Her tone sharpens with skepticism. “When you’ve never brought any of your women anywhere near us?”

“This is different.”

“Clearly, since she’s here.”

I pause, unsure how to explain to my mother that I didn’t bring Grace here to introduce her—that I brought her to keep her unsuspecting. So she keeps thinking whatever game she’s playing is working. That I intend to take her home, maybe fuck her one last time, then grill her until I get what I need. Answers. Who she’s working with. What the hell this is really about.

I wonder what method of torture would work best on her. Psychological? Physical?

Sensual?

I shake my head. I’ll think about that later.

“I want to meet her,” Mom says, already starting toward Grace.

I catch her arm. “No, Mom. Not yet.” Her brows pull together as she studies me. I try for a charming smile, but I know I’m not fooling her. “It’s still new,” I add. “I don’t want to scare her off.” That, at least, seems to satisfy her.

“Alright. But you have to bring her to family dinner one of these days.” She walks away without giving me a chance to argue, and I blow out a breath of relief, waiting until she disappears into the crowd before making my way toward Grace.