Chapter 56: A rock and a hard place

I stood near a marble pillar, nervously sipping champagne I didn't even want. The bubbles fizzed bitterly on my tongue, but I barely noticed.

What if he doesn't show up?

The thought clung to me like a second skin, gnawing relentlessly at my nerves. I glanced down at my arm, where a red sleeve hid the throbbing ache of the bullet wound. The faint sting served as a twisted reassurance.

He's a man of his word, I reminded myself. He'll come.

Still, the doubt lingered, heavy and suffocating.

The sound of footsteps echoed from the grand staircase, pulling my attention upward. My three brothers appeared, descending with their usual air of effortless majesty. They moved as though the world bent to their whims, each one more striking than the last.

Women fawned openly, single and otherwise, no one was spared. I spotted at least two ladies blush furiously as Basil offered a polite nod in their direction.