Chapter 2

"It's our one-year together in an hour," I add.

This is about the heir's bet. I can't lose now.

Julian gives me that insufferable look. The one that says I knew it.

"See? I knew you couldn't leave me. Baby, I can't leave you either. That breakup threat? Just a little trick to keep you in line."

He takes my hand, presses it over his heart.

"Even though I'm helping Sienna today, you're the only one in here."

"Do this one small favor for her, and I promise I won't break up with you."

No wonder he's so confident.

Last week, Sienna kissed Julian right in front of me. "Accidentally." Drunk. Then laughed about how they'd pinky-sworn as kids.

She said, "If there was anything between me and Julian, it would've happened already."

He said, "Babe, she's like a brother to me. It's not what you think."

And I still didn't leave him.

Everyone thinks I'm desperately in love with Julian Vance.

Thinking about it makes me curse my grandfather for the eight hundredth time.

"Are we doing this or not?!" Jax loses patience. He kicks a crystal vase off the center table. It shatters across the floor.

That savage look in his eyes makes everyone flinch.

"Who's sitting in the damn chair?!"

Sienna tugs Julian's sleeve. Tears pooling.

She doesn't even need words.

Julian hands her a tissue. Then shoots me a warning glare.

"Sit in that chair. Now. One second of hesitation and we're over."

I can't lose the bet at the finish line.

I paste on a soft, obedient smile. "Fine. I'll do it."

Sienna opens her livestream.

"Hey babes! Broadcasting my wedding! That's Jax Russo, the Russo family heir. Hottest psycho in the city."

"My bridesmaid? Oh, she volunteered to play. She's loving it."

The comments pour in like venom.

"Isn't that delivery girl Julian's girlfriend? She hooked a rich guy and now she's attention-whoring at someone else's wedding?"

"Gold-digger trying to seduce Jax Russo? Girl picked the wrong target. That man has ice in his veins."

I glance at the comments. Then at Jax.

Hard to connect this so-called monster with the guy who used to tremble like a puppy in front of me.

I drop into the chair. Hold out my arm.

"Hook me up."

The bodyguard connects the electrodes.

Sienna cuts in. "Jax, let me ask the questions. I know her better."

She lowers her voice so only we can hear.

"Don't you want to see her lose control of her bladder on camera?"

Jax drags on his cigarette, waves a hand. Whatever.

Sienna smiles sweetly. "First question."

"Have you ever killed an animal? A pet?"

I think for a second. Nod.

"Yeah."

The comments explode.

"Psycho!"

"Animal abuser!"

"Look at her face, she doesn't even care!"

Julian stares at me.

"I didn't know you were that kind of person."

Jax, though. He leans forward. Interested.

"Why'd you kill it?"

"To save someone's life."

It was a wolf. Legal to own overseas. I brought it to the estate, and on day one it tried to rip a courier's throat out. I put a blade through its neck.

But I can't say that. Too many details that lead back to my identity.

I shake my head.

"No comment on the details."

Sienna pounces.

"Even if an animal bites, you smack it! You don't slaughter it! You're cold-blooded!"

The livestream chat calls for doxxing me. Threats to show up at my door.

"Second question." Sienna's smile sharpens.

"On your birthday, you faked a pregnancy to force Julian into buying you a forty-thousand-dollar necklace. And for his birthday, you were planning to give him... a wooden box. True or false?"

Deny it, get electrocuted live.

Admit it, branded a gold-digger forever.

That's her game.

I smile slowly. "True."

Comments erupt. "She can't even spend a hundred bucks on him?" "Classic gold-digger move."

Sienna shoves her phone in my face. "Look, everyone! Not even a hint of shame!"

Why would I be ashamed?

That box contains the Moretti Onyx Coin. Whoever holds it gets full protection and priority access to every deal in the Moretti empire.

The Vance family is drowning in debt. That coin was their only lifeline.

But I say nothing. Not yet.

Julian's jaw tightens. "So the rumors were true. You're only with me for my family's money. I gave you a forty-grand necklace and you can't even..."

I tap my fingers on the armrest. "That necklace. You know exactly what happened. Want to explain to the livestream? Or should I?"

His face goes white. Then red.

"...It's in the past. Drop it."

Jax is bored. No one's gotten electrocuted. No one's screamed.

"Forget this. She's telling the truth every time. Boring." He claps his hands.

Bodyguards wheel in the massive crate draped in black cloth. Something hisses inside.

Jax rips the cover off.

Dozens of snakes. Coiled, writhing, tangled at the bottom.

He grins. "So. Bride or bridesmaid. Who's getting in?"