Page 6 of Sinister Engagement

"Please." I wasn't above begging. "Dad, you can't really be—"

His face changed, shifting and morphing into one I knew. It was the face of the head of the Price family—the immovable and unrepentant man who was responsible for things I refused to be a part of. Things that would almost certainly have him arrested and committed to federal prison for life. And now … I was the next piece of his business plan. A simple pawn no matter how much I worked on leaving this life behind.

"I've made my decision," he said, releasing my hands and leaving me feeling cold all over as my face drained of all warmth. "It would be in your best interest to give Gaven a chance."

“This isn’t the medieval ages, Dad,” I hissed, my voice breaking when I realized Gaven was watching my humiliation with a curious and analytical gaze.

“No, but you are a part of a very old school family, Evangeline. My marriage was arranged, too. Youwillagree to this.” It was a command, not a question. I wanted to protest harder, but I knew the truth—no matter how much my father might care for me, he could force the issue. Or choose someone who was far worse.

I looked over to Gaven Belmonte. By all appearances, he wasn’t monstrous. Appearances, however, could be deceiving. As if understanding that our small interlude had come to an end, Gaven stepped forward and offered his own hand in greeting.

“It truly is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Angel,” he said.

“Evangeline,” I corrected automatically as I took his hand. It nearly engulfed mine with warmth and strength in his grip. His palm and fingers were rough with callouses as he squeezed lightly.

He smiled. “I think Angel suits you.”

I wasn't sure how to respond to that, so I chose to remain silent.

“I understand you may be a little confused by all this, but I was hoping that you would join me for dinner tomorrow.” He smirked. “I think it’d be nice to get to know one another more intimately, don’t you?”

My lips parted and my eyes bounced from his to my father's and to Jackie’s—who stared at the two of us with a deep scowl on her face. My mind was jumping around in circles. “Erm…”

Gaven’s hand tightened on mine, and he used his hold to pull me closer until he could lean down and brush his lips over my ear as he spoke. “I promise you won’t regret it,” he said. “Just one date.”

When he backed away and released my hand, the hard, beckoning stare of my father told me what I already knew. This was all a farce, Gavin's request merely an illusion. The reality was that the choice had already been made for me, so I gave the only answer I could, the single word feeling like acid on my tongue.

“Yes.”

3

Angel

My dreams of going away to college and leaving behind this life—a life bathed in crime and secrets—seemed as far away as ever as I walked through the estate to the front, where I would wait to be picked up by Gaven Belmonte.

After the meeting in my father's office the day before, Jackie had stormed off, her mood having turned foul for some unknown reason. She'd been perfectly amused to hear of my arranged marriage, but now she seemed more upset by it than even I was. And I wasplentyupset over it. The man my father had chosen was handsome, and a part of me felt as though I should've been grateful for that small consolation, but it couldn't erase the fact that I didn't know him or that I would forever be tethered to this family and its cruel intentions.

"Miss." I looked up as Johnny, one of my father's closest men approached me. "Mr. Belmonte's here. He's waiting in the sitting room."

"Oh." I glanced down at my dress before smoothing the slightly wrinkled sides, the movement giving me something to do. Allowing me to hide the slight tremble in my hands that Johnny would probably report to my father, to note how theengagementwas developing. Swallowing the lump that formed in my through, I forced my gaze back on him. "Thank you. I'll go see him."

Johnny nodded, his eyes following me as I moved past him. The place where Gaven waited was a room my father often invited guests. Gaven was different, though. This man knew who my father was, knew what he did, and I could only assume that meant he was just like him. Since my discovery of the family business, I’d kept careful watch over who my father invited into our inner most estate—some he seemed to care for and some he seemed to despise. I’d come to learn that he invited them all, whether they were friends or enemies because the best way to deal with enemies was to keep them just as close if not closer. My only question now was …Which one is Gaven Belmonte?

I remembered how my father spoke of him the day before, afriend, but it was hard to know anyone’s true motives in this life. If he was a potential enemy, then he'd just been offered the keys to the kingdom.

As I entered the sitting room, Gaven turned away from the window and offered me a smile. It was a careful smile, one meant to reassure, but the only way he could have reassured me was by calling it all off.

"Hello, Angel.”

"Hello..." I let my reply drift as I lowered my eyes to the black box he held in his hand, a jolt of worry constricting my chest at the package "What's that?"

His smile deepened into one that felt more real as he held it up. "I thought it'd be nice to bring you a gift for our first date since your father couldn't be here to see you off."

"He's working. I'm used to it," I said with a small shrug, trying to soothe all the ridiculous ideas my brain conjured that could have been hisgift. Still, curiosity had me reaching for the box as he held it out to me. "Can I open this now?" I asked, lifting my gaze once more to meet his.

He nodded. "I'd like it if you could wear it while I search for something more suited to your tastes." He paused, and almost as if he couldn't help himself, he added, "And mine."

Frowning, I pinched my fingers under the lid of the small box and then opened it, my lips parting when what was inside was revealed. I stared down at the diamond choker with surprise. It was a single slender gold chain so finely woven that the links were almost indiscernible. Every inch or so was a diamond, and from the way they glittered—perfectly clear and unclouded—I could tell that they were real.

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