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Every woman selected for the job has been more than satisfied after hearing the terms and conditions.

They arrive already wearing masks, leave their belongings in their private dressing rooms, perform the service they’re being paid for, and leave immediately after.

They don’t even know each other. The masks come off when they step out of the cars that drive them to whatever destination each of them listed in their contracts.

“But they’d be even better if we could… admire them up close.”

Yeah. I’ve spent more than enough time around them.

Before I can say I’m expected elsewhere by my brothers—who disappeared God knows where—my gaze shifts past one of the men standing in front of me.

And that’s when I see her.

She must’ve just arrived, judging by the way she’s hurrying to the entrance. She walks confidently across the red carpet, passing directly in front of me without paying attention to anything around her.

I’m absolutely certain she didn’t notice me, yet my eyes lock onto her before I even realize what’s happening.

Just the sight of her is enough to intensify the constant sense of absence inside me.

And the anger.

Anger because nothing I could say or do will change our situation.

I already knew that, and still, I wasn’t prepared for what I saw in her eyes that night.

Disgust. Repulsion.

The thoughts churn through my blood, awakening an immediate need to do something. And I know exactly what.

With the idea already taking shape in my mind, I excuse myself and head inside. Thankfully, the press wasn’t allowed at this event. I wouldn’t have been able to tolerate their questions—questions I don’t even want to imagine, considering both Selene and I are here tonight and arrived separately.

Inside, I find the guys at the bar and head straight to them, not giving anyone the chance to drag me into another conversation. As soon as I reach them, I notice Thalia and Sierra standing a little farther away, caught up in conversation with Selene, who has her back turned to me.

“How much longer do we have to stay?” I ask, stopping beside them.

“Why?” Ethan asks. “Where are you in such a rush to get to?”

I look him straight in the eyes without answering because we both know the reason. There’s no point in saying it out loud.

I’m sure he only stopped reminding me of the promise I made him because he knows this is the worst possible time to bring it up again. But I can feel the moment approaching when he’ll finally snap over it.

I see it in the way his jaw keeps ticking from how hard he’s clenching it.

“I don’t understand why we still show up to events when we spend the entire time wanting to leave,” Chase says, taking another sip of whiskey.

“Seriously. Couldn’t we just politely decline the invitations?” Noah adds.

“Or send our assistants instead.”

Noah doesn’t even get to finish speaking, and silence falls over us.

Every single one of us looks at Ethan.

Of course, there’s no visible reaction. The man could hide even the ugliest secret without allowing a single gesture or expression to betray him.

But we know him too well not to notice the way his fingers tighten around his glass, nearly crushing it under the pressure, or the tension locking his jaw so tightly his teeth are probably seconds away from cracking.

“Did you find anything about the last suspect?” he asks Colt.