Author POV

The ballroom shimmered beneath crystal chandeliers, gold light spilling across diamonds, silk, and sharp-cut suits. Laughter echoed. Glasses clinked. Deals worth lives were being discussed in low tones behind polite smiles.

But beneath the celebration, something ugly was moving.

Giovanni stood beside one of the marble pillars, her fingers wrapped lightly around a glass of juice. Her gaze kept drifting toward Gray across the room, but every time their eyes almost met, someone would ...