The charity gala was a blur of flashing cameras and fake smiles. Again.
Aria stood on the marble balcony outside, desperate for air, a cigarette she didn't smoke dangling from her fingers just to keep people away.
She wasn't alone for long.
"You look like you're planning a murder," said a voice behind her.
She sighed. "Maybe I am."
It was Lucian Quinn—Xander's cousin. The charming one. The one who always looked like he was two seconds away from setting the world on fire for fun.
"You always were the prettier one," he said, sidling up next to her.
She rolled her eyes. "What do you want?"
"To remind you that this family's full of liars, and you're not the only one playing a long game."
She turned to him, eyebrows raised. "What are you talking about?"
Lucian leaned in, his smile twisted and slow.
"Xander's not the only one with secrets. Be careful, Aria. Sometimes revenge bites back."
And with that, he disappeared into the night, leaving her with a cold cigarette, a burning question—
—and a dozen new reasons not to trust anyone.