Chapter 2
I did not confront them immediately.
That bothered Cassian more.
Good.
I returned to my seat.
Picked up my untouched wineglass.
Set it down again.
Then I looked at Rafe, my chief bodyguard.
One glance.
He understood enough.
The east corridor.
Quietly.
No panic.
No guests running toward exits.
Cassian watched him leave.
There.
Another confirmation.
I turned toward Iris.
“Tell me exactly what you heard.”
Scarlett hissed:
“She’s staff.”
I looked at her.
“Correct.”
Then:
“And right now she’s the only person at this table who warned me.”
Scarlett went silent.
Iris’s bruised hand tightened against her apron.
She had entered Scarlett’s dressing room carrying fresh linens.
The door was partly open.
Cassian stood beside Scarlett’s vanity.
Not touching her.
Not kissing her.
Studying a hand-drawn map of the mansion’s service passages.
He pointed to the east corridor.
Then said:
“When the orchestra stops, his glass goes down. Three minutes later, that door opens.”
My eyes went to the orchestra.
Still playing.
Soft strings.
Scarlett stared at the musicians too.
Interesting.
“What happens after the door opens?”
Iris shook her head.
“I didn’t hear.”
Scarlett discovered her.
Cassian slipped out through the adjoining wardrobe passage.
He dropped the cufflink.
Iris saw it.
Picked it up.
Scarlett demanded it.
When Iris refused, Scarlett gripped her fist until the metal edge cut into her palm.
Then told her:
“You saw nobody.”
I looked at Scarlett’s engagement ring.
Bright beneath the chandelier.
“Did you say that?”
She swallowed.
“She misunderstood.”
I almost smiled.
People always become misunderstood when the exact sentence becomes inconvenient.
Then the orchestra stopped.
Not naturally.
All six musicians lowered their instruments at once.
Cassian looked toward the east doors.
I did too.
The handles moved.
Rafe had not returned.
Scarlett whispered:
“Dorian…”
The east doors opened.
Four armed Westbrook guards stepped inside.
Cassian exhaled.
Relief.
Too early.
Then the four men crossed the ballroom—
and stopped behind me.
Not him.
Cassian’s face changed.
Rafe entered last.
“East corridor secured, Boss.”
May you like
I looked at my oldest friend.
Whatever he had planned for three minutes after the music stopped had just lost its doorway.
