Chapter 4

Half an hour later, the bridesmaids finally finished Eliza's makeup.

The result was painfully overdone.

Her foundation sat thick on her skin, her false lashes nearly brushed her eyebrows, and the heavy blush made the entire look almost theatrical.

Eliza, however, admired herself from every angle in the mirror.

"Perfect. This is exactly how a woman of my status should look on her wedding day."

Suddenly, noise erupted downstairs.

Car doors slammed in the courtyard, followed by laughter and men's voices carrying through the estate.

Maverick's party had arrived.

I let out an unsteady breath.

Finally.

Maybe someone would get me out of here.

The bridesmaids hurried to the window.

"Eliza, they're here!"

Eliza's eyes immediately shifted to me.

The look she gave me sent a chill down my spine.

Then she smiled.

"Go keep Maverick downstairs."

She turned back toward the mirror.

"Send his crew up first. I think they deserve a little entertainment before the ceremony."

The bridesmaids exchanged knowing looks before hurrying out.

My stomach tightened.

What was she planning now?

It didn't take long for male voices to fill the upstairs hallway.

"Where's the bride?"

"Maverick's already downstairs waiting. How long are you planning to keep him from his own wedding?"

One of the bridesmaids stepped into their path.

"You want Eliza?"

Her smile widened.

"Then you have to pass one little challenge first."

Before I understood what was happening, she dragged me out of the dressing room and shoved me into the hallway.

Several of Maverick's young associates were standing there.

The moment they saw me, their attention sharpened.

"Who's she?"

"Another bridesmaid?"

One of them gave me an appreciative look.

"Not bad."

The bridesmaid beside me dug her fingers painfully into my arm while keeping a sweet smile on her face.

"The rules are simple."

She gestured toward me.

"We've hidden eighty-eight cash envelopes on her. Find every one, and we'll let you through to the bride."

She paused deliberately.

"Every single one."

The men looked at me.

"On her?"

Their eyes traveled over me, and my skin crawled.

My voice turned ice-cold.

"Touch me and you'll regret it."

For a moment, the hallway fell quiet.

Then Eliza called from inside the bridal suite.

"Don't let her scare you."

Her voice was light and playful.

"It's just a wedding game."

She laughed softly.

"If Maverick's men can't handle one little challenge, what kind of soldiers does he have working for him?"

That was enough.

The men exchanged amused looks.

"Well, we can't embarrass the boss."

"Sorry, sweetheart. Bride's rules."

Before I could step back, several hands reached for me.

My entire body locked up.

"Don't touch me!"

I twisted away and ran toward the stairs, but someone caught me around the waist and dragged me back.

"She's running."

A burst of laughter followed.

"Guess that's part of the game too."

I fought free for half a second, only for someone to catch my ankle.

I lost my balance and crashed onto the sofa in the hallway.

Laughter erupted around me.

Before I could get back up, several men closed in.

Panic hit me hard.

I clutched the front of my dress with both hands.

"Get off me!"

Across the hallway, the bridesmaids had already pulled out their phones.

They were filming.

"Come on! It's a wedding. Have some fun!"

"Don't be shy. She loves male attention."

The men began pulling the cash envelopes from my clothes.

Except it stopped feeling like a game almost immediately.

Hands lingered where they had no reason to linger.

Fingers brushed across places they had no right to touch.

Every time I tried to shove someone away, another man reached in.

I couldn't even tell how many times I'd been grabbed.

Humiliation burned through me.

Then came fear.

My throat tightened until breathing hurt.

Tears slipped down my face before I could stop them.

One of the men laughed.

"Why are you crying? It's just a game."

"Relax. Nobody's hurting you."

One of the bridesmaids gathered the envelopes they'd found and began counting them.

When she reached the end, she frowned dramatically.

"Eighty-seven."

She looked up.

"There's still one missing."

The hallway went quiet.