Page 36 of Forever Fake

“I get to keep it.” Awe colors her tone. She glances at me and beams. “I get to keep it! Thank you. Thank you so much. It’s… I don’t even have the right words to describe it.”

“Magpie-worthy?”

Gin laughs. “What’s with the magpies? Is it because of your grandpa’s figurine that I… tried to liberate?”

“Only partially.” I lean back in my chair, amusement flowing through my chest. “It’s because you love shiny objects. The myth is that magpies steal shiny things, just like you.”

“Myth?”

“Yes. The bird is actually afraid of pretty much anything flashy, including shiny things, but the myth lives on regardless.”

“Huh. I didn’t know that.”

“It’s pointless information really.” I wave our server over. “Would you like a nightcap?”

“Sure. I’ll have a lemon drop.”

I grunt at her choice of the sugar-rimmed drink, and order myself a whiskey, neat. Neither of us really needs another drink, but we’re celebrating tonight, so we can indulge a little. After all, we’re recently engaged.

“Tell me about your family,” Gin says when our drinks arrive.

Her inquiry catches me off guard. I’m hesitant to divulge too much information about my relatives, but she’ll be subjected to them all soon enough. “What do you want to know?”

“I don’t know. I’ll be joining your family soon, so I feel like I should know at least something about them.”

“You’ve met my younger brother, Liam, at numerous events.”

“Yeah. I know of him, but we’re just acquaintances. He’s always been polite but aloof.”

“I see. He graduates from college next month, then he’s set to inherit my family’s real estate development company, Titan Enterprises.”

“So nepotism is alive and well.”

I snort a laugh. “It is indeed.”

“If that’s his inheritance, then what’s yours?” She sips her lemon drop.

“That’s not important. Besides Liam, I have a step-sister who’s about your age. Her name’s Lexa. She’s quiet and sweet.” I take a swig of whiskey. “That’s pretty much all you need to know about her. Then there’s Yve, my wicked step-mother. It’s best if you avoid her at all costs.”

“Oh?” She quirks a brow. “Why’s that?”

“She is evil incarnate. A manipulative, terrible woman. If you come within her sphere of influence she will relentlessly use you for her own gains. That’s a warning, Gin. You’d do well to heed it. Avoid her throughout our marriage and you’ll be fine.”

“Okay.” Gin finishes her drink. “I heard your father passed a few years ago.”

I give her a curt nod. Everyone seems too aware of the late Mr. Baron’s demise. His abrupt end startled much of Manhattan society and started the rumor mill going. Some people assume a rival took out his fishing boat—with him on it. Others think it was an unfortunate accident. But, oddly enough, no one voices their suspicions of, or accuses, his sweet young wife, Yve.

Only I seem to see the blood on her hands.

Abruptly, I stand and down the rest of my whisky. “We should go.”

Gin rises from her seat and sways. I catch her against my chest, steadying her on her feet. I note her flushed skin and glassy eyes. She’s obviously had a bit too much to drink, so I hold her against my side as we make our way out of the dining room.

By the time we get upstairs, she’s hugging my middle and giggling—over nothing, as far as I can tell.

“What’s so funny?”

She lifts her hand, showing me her glittering engagement ring. “We’re getting married.” More giggles. “That’s just crazy!”

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