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I laughed, surprised by his frankness.

“Heard Patricia tried to trip you up tonight,” he said.

“Keyword is tried.”

He chuckled. “She’s been claiming to be the HBIC for over thirty years and you’re the first person that handled her the way you did.”

“I have a low tolerance for bullies and bullshit,” I said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

“I respect it.” He looked out on the floor toward Cardez. “I hope you understand what you’re walking into.”

“I’m starting to get a clearer picture. Excuse me,” I said as I stood to go to the restroom.

I’d lost count of how many glasses of champagne I’d had by now. I handled my business and walked out, nearly smacking into Gideon in the process.

“Marriage?”

I rolled my eyes even though my heart had jumped up to my throat.

“Marriage,” he said again, his eyes dropping to the ring. “That’s an interesting pivot.”

“Is your daddy a dirty politician? That’s the only reason he’d be mixed up with the Montagues, right? So that doesn’t make you any better than me, does it?” I asked.

“You’re still short, Belle. Who your fiancé is doesn’t change that.”

“I’m aware.”

He leaned in closer. “Does he know that you fucked men so you can steal from them?”

“Everything good here?”

We both turned to see Cardez standing at the mouth of the alcove. I started to panic. How much of that had he heard?

“‘Sup, Dez?” Gideon said, extending his hand to him.

Cardez looked at it with mild disgust. “Gideon. Didn’t think you’d be here tonight.”

“My father’s campaigning. I’m here in his place,” Gideon said with an easy smile.

Cardez’s eyes moved to me, long enough to clock the expression on my face. “I see.”

He reached out for me, and I took his hand. It was warm and oddly comforting. ”You two catching up?”

“Just saying congratulations on the engagement.” Gideon smiled at me again.

Dez had a couple of inches over Gideon and while Gideon’s smile didn’t move, something behind his eyes did. A small recalibration.

“Good seeing you both.” He moved past us and back into the party without looking back at me.

I stared at a point past Cardez’s shoulder and pulled my hand out of his grip. “How much did you hear?”

“Enough.”

I was tempted to ask what that meant but left it alone. He put his hand at the small of my back and steered us back toward the party like nothing happened. His touch felt different now. Firmer. Possessive. The kind of touch that said I’m not going anywhere.

Gideon’s voice stayed in my ear the rest of the night. Cardez politicked with whoever he needed to and I stood beside him, smiling at the right moments and speaking when I was included in the conversation.

Near the end of the night, we ended up at the windows away from most of the crowd. The Long Island Sound was stretched out in front of us with the Throggs Neck lit up.