Page 14 of Captive Bride

Tristan

We stop to get a bottle of tequila, Patron, on the way. When in doubt, go classic.

Yes, I can afford the finest tequila on the planet. I can buy whatever I want. But the truth is, tonight I feel like slumming it.

I’m posing as a partygoer after all.

It’s shaping up to be a typical night. We always crash the Capulet parties. Merc, Benny, and I are all dressed in our finest tuxedos, as befitting an affair thrown for the Governor.

We pull up to the Capulet high-rise. There’s massive security on this place. It’s always been my ultimate goal in life to penetrate this fortress, and yet, for all the times we’ve done it, I’ve never had a glimpse of her, the Capulet princess.

Her dad’s got her nice and covered, but tonight will be different. She’ll be on display for the world to see, and I want to know what all the fuss is about.

I’ve heard she’s beautiful, but she can’t be that gorgeous, right?

For as long as I can remember, it’s been about the Capulets against us, the Montagues.

The war for turf is ongoing in this town.

Tonight is a major loss for us. Having the damn Capulet heiress marrying the Governor is not a good sign. Doubtless, her father is doing this to her.

No one could fall in love with the Governor. He’s just not that kind of man.

But he does have a lot of power in this town, power that we need. With Isobel marrying the guy, she’ll have his ear, and her father will have the Governor wrapped around his little finger so fucking tight that I can’t even believe it.

If only we thought of this. I can think of several gorgeous Montagues we could’ve married off to the Governor.

The difference between us and them is that I would never do that. My parents would never do that. We don’t trade our family like cattle; they’re not fucking property to be given for favors.

Our limousine is in line behind what seems like a hundred other limousines.

Everyone wants to be seen at this party.

“Look at the damn people, waiting in line to serve the Capulets,” Merc says.

“Why don’t we throw parties like this?” Benny asks.

“We do,” I say through clenched teeth because I’m suddenly feeling pissed off. “But we don’t whore ourselves out to the nation. Only our inner circle, the best of the best is invited.”

I drink my tequila on ice and burn with rage at having to be here.

Suddenly, it seems like a bad idea, not worth my time.

These damn masks might be a good thing because I want to fade into the background and just take inventory of the place. I want to research the Governor and find his Achilles’ Heel.

I want to find out exactly what kind of man he is.

I want to see what kind of Capulet forces we’re dealing with now.

And so when the driver opens the door and we emerge, my heart beats a little faster.

It’s always like this, trying to get inside. We could always get caught, outnumbered, and murdered in the back alleyway. But it’s a risk I’m willing to take for the inside scoop.

Luckily for us, we know a couple of the bodyguards.

With a simple nod from me, they let us in.

Having spies everywhere is what I do. And it’s worth every fucking cent I spend on them.

---