Page 3 of Captive Bride

I look at him, interested. “I’m all yours.”

“There’s a Capulet party of sorts,” Merc says.

“A party? What’s so great about that? They party nearly every weekend,” I say.

Merc has a devilish look on his face. I can tell he’s enjoying keeping me in suspense.

“It’s not just that Tristan. It’s a big party. The Capulet princess is getting married to the Governor. And tonight is when the announcement’s being made.”

I look at him stunned.

An engagement party? Our greatest enemy is about to make their greatest move.

The Capulets have been in the pocket of the Governor for some time now and that gives them an edge. That’s how they get all their dirty deeds done in this town. It would be my ultimate joy to stop that marriage, to stop their flow of connections to that political monster.

I look at my cousins and say, “You’re kidding me, right? This has to play to our advantage. Are you guys thinking what I’m thinking?”

They nod.

Merc says, “Of course.”

“So we’re gonna crash the party then,” I say, pulling my crisp white shirt on.

Suddenly, my night is looking a lot better. Crashing a Capulet party is one of my favorite things to do. The security’s so tight at these affairs that it feels good just getting in the door.

Besides, I always know what the fuck I’m doing. Once I’m in, I like to spy on them and to make my rounds with their people with no one the wiser.

But tonight is different—the princess will be there.

I’ve heard about her, but I’ve never seen her. And to tell you the truth, I’m less interested in her than I am in getting to know the Governor.

I need to see what kind of guy this is and why he has such power.

Benny says, “Merc’s excited, but I don’t want to go. I’m so sick of this fucking world, this life. Can’t it be over already? Haven’t enough people died?”

Benny...he’s always complaining about the same thing.

He hates crime, and he hates killing. In truth, I do, too.

But I’m so jaded by it all that I now can’t imagine living any other way.

“Come on, Benny,” I say. “If we play this right tonight, if we find some way to mess up their little arrangement with the Governor, then all of this might be over quicker than you think.”

Merc agrees. “The Capulets have the Governor, and that means they win. They can get away with anything in this town because of that connection. If the Governor’s on their side, then so are the police and so is everybody that matters. We have to stop that marriage.”

I agree with Merc, but I don’t understand how it’s going to get done.

I don’t see how we can stop the marriage without a couple of murders involved.

“Well, let’s go check out the scene,” I say.

Benny smirks, and I look at him.

“What is it?”

“Well, you’re not gonna like this part. It’s a masquerade ball.”

I frown.

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