She held her breath, dragging her gaze up to mine for longer than she’d likely intended, before bolting to her feet and smoothing out the wrinkles from her dress.The moment was too much, and she had obligations as her surviving family’s trophy.“I should make the rounds. Thank you for taking in the fresh air with me, Brian. Enjoy the rest of the night.” She stretched out her hand to bid me farewell.I straightened myself and took her hand but rotated and brought it up. “I hope we meet again soon, Mabel.”Our eyes locked as I lightly caressed my lips over her knuckles.Her cheeks flushed and her mouth opened, but it seemed that her words were lost. Instead, she nodded and walked away.I waited until her silhouette had disappeared into the house before slipping through the void. I had no desire to mingle with any other mortals now that my agenda to encounter Mabel had been accomplished. I knew the impression I left her with would have her thoughts trailing back to me throughout the res

Though he hadn’t clearly labeled it a date, I was going to assume it was one until he started grilling me for information on my father’s campaign or business holdings. The longer I thought about the invitation, the more my stomach knotted and my fingers itched to text him and cancel.Out of habit, I reached for my locket. I’d cried for an hour in my car when I realized it was gone, and retracing my steps had led me nowhere but back to my empty office to finish paperwork and emails.I peered down at my phone screen and opened up one of the three social media apps I scrolled through to dull my senses and pass the next forty-five minutes. New posts from friends in the UK appeared first. Three of them were together on a walkabout in London. Mads’ handle was tagged in one of the corners as the photographer, but several thumb pushes later, I saw his own version of events on the outing. He was sitting on a park bench, holding the largest sausage roll I’d ever seen in his lap that he was gest

Nothing.”“That’s convincing,” he slurred then took a shot. “You have a scowl on your face that could scare the paint off a bus.” He held up another for me to take.I eyed his hand but took his offering. “You might want to slow down. It’s not even midnight and you’ve lost your senses.”The woman who had just been playing the part of Brian’ drinking vessel giggled and sat up from the low table. She fixed her skirt then sat down to admire the both of us.He wrinkled his nose, disgusted by my accusation. “And besmirch my title? Brother, some of us cannot rely on our attitudes to spread our gifts to the masses. I am excess. All revelry and misguided fun must be inspired by my hand.” His arms flung out. “I am all of this.”“Calm down, brother.”Orobas spun around. It had been Ezequiel calling for Orobas to quit his showboating. Under his arm was a tall blonde woman who was likely a model or actress.“Hope you don’t mind if we join you,” he stated.“It depends. Did you bring anything for th

Mabel, who had been taking the last sip from her glass, caught the cruel glee on my face. Puzzled, she looked around to find what had stolen my attention away for the first time all night.“Is that . . . ,” she whispered, worried that her voice would carry and direct her father’s crew toward us. “I have to go.”“Wait,” I said with little enthusiasm as she gathered her things.She got to her feet and made a quick beeline to the exit, doing exactly what I wanted her to do. Harris caught sight of her and excused himself to trail after her. I took my time retrieving three hundred-dollar bills from my wallet and handing them to our waiter before I joined Evie and her father at the doors“What are you doing here with him? He’s dangerous. You have no idea what you’ve done—what you’re risking,” he scolded, red-faced and flustered.“It was one date. I’m a grown woman, and I can make my own choices—”“Is everything all right?” I slipped into their hushed conversation.Harris pointed an accusato

The sun hangs high in the sky as I stand next to my father near the docks in Miami. My heart races, and for the first time in a long time, I feel excited about this meeting. As the oldest, it's something I've always wanted – to be included in the family business, to prove to my father that just because I'm a woman doesn't mean I can't run the Manuel Syndicate as well as any man.A salty breeze blows through my curly hair, carrying with it the scent of seaweed and diesel fumes from the fishing boats swaying gently in their berths. The squawking of seagulls mixes with the distant hum of traffic as they search for scraps of food among the detritus littering the dockside, creating a cacophony of life."Lucia, pay attention," my father chides, snapping me backA man approaches us, his dark hair slicked back and his darker features giving away a lifetime of experience. I eye him up and down, taking in every detail, before he introduces himself as Axe. My father waves off his introduction wi