THE KASTELLAN HEIR.

DINNER WITH THE VULTURES.

Ronan felt some relief that the board meeting wrapped up faster than he’d braced for. Every executive around that huge, round table had looked at him like he didn’t belong. Their surprise was obvious: the new heir to the Kastellan family was way younger, and looked far less important, than they’d pictured.

The capital office was a huge glass tower rising over the whole city. With each new building he visited, his sense of amazement grew stronger. The second the meeting ended, he stood. A man with a perfectly trimmed white beard and matching white hair caught his hand in a tight, dry shake.

“Care to join us tonight for a small get-together we’re throwing just for you, Mr. Kastellan?” the man asked. His pale green eyes crinkled with a polished grin. “It would mean a lot to have you there this evening.”

A party thrown in his honor? His confidence, bruised for years by Vivienne’s put-downs, buzzed with a new, dangerous energy. He kept his cool, nodding slowly. “I’ll try to stop by, Mr…?”

“Aldric,” the old man said. “Aldric Neville.”

Ronan nodded, but the moment their eyes met, a strange coldness ran down his spine. For a split second, he thought he caught a flash of pure hatred hiding behind that friendly smile. Before he could think it through, Sienna, who had stepped out briefly, rushed back into the room.

“No, no, no!” she whispered, weaving past executives to reach him. “Come on, Mr. Kastellan, we need to go. Right now.”

He frowned. “We do?”

She shot him a desperate, pointed look. He gave Aldric a quick nod and let her steer him toward the private elevators.

“What was that about?” he asked as the doors shut. “I thought my schedule was clear tonight?”

“It is. I just needed to get you out of there,” Sienna said, her voice tense. “You can’t just talk freely with them, Ronan. You can’t trust anyone in that room. Most of them have spent years scheming to break this company apart the second your grandfather died. They’re not looking for a leader. They’re hunting for a weak spot.”

He pressed his lips together, feeling like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “Oh, no.”

“What?” Sienna asked, eyes narrowing.

“I might’ve already told Aldric yes to that party tonight. In my honor.”

Sienna’s eyes went wide. “You did what?”

Two hours later, Ronan stepped out of his room to find Sienna pacing the hallway of the penthouse. She glanced up at his tuxedo, a deep navy masterpiece, and reached over to straighten his tie, even though it already sat perfectly.

“Relax, Sienna,” he said. “It’s just dinner.”

“No, it’s not. It’s basically dining with a room full of vultures!” she hissed. “My grandfather warned me about Aldric. Those shareholders want the Kastellan bloodline wiped out for good. Those smiles are fake. Please, Ronan, watch yourself.”

He caught her hands, stopping her fussing. “Why does this worry you so much? Your eyes look terrified.”

She went quiet for a beat, caught in his gaze. Then she looked down, her voice softer. “I’ve given my whole life to this legacy. You’re the center of this company now, Ronan. If you go down, everything falls with you. You’re my responsibility.”

“Where’s all this danger even coming from?” he asked, his voice low. “Guns in the cars, guards everywhere. It’s like something out of a movie.”

“The danger’s everywhere, all the time. You’re only safe if you know everything there is to know. And that’s my job, to teach you.” She turned back to face him, her expression turning serious. “Rules for tonight. Turn down every drink, even from a server. Don’t touch a single piece of food. And above all, say no to any woman who gets thrown your way. A scandal is the fastest way to wreck a reputation. They’ll use anything to strip away your say in this company.”

He smirked. “The women? Seriously?”

“I mean it. The news doesn’t care what’s true,” she said. “They care about a good story.”

He laughed softly. “What else? Should I hide a gun under this tux too?”

Her eyes lit up. “Could you?”

“No way! This is crazy. I feel like bait in some undercover operation.”

Her face fell, real regret crossing her features. “Sorry. I know this isn’t the life you’re used to. I just want you to make it through tonight in one piece.”

“And if I said I don’t feel like going anymore?” he asked quietly.

“I’m not trying to talk you out of it—”

“Actually, you did a pretty good job of it,” he said, watching relief wash over her face. “I’m not big on parties anyway. Especially ones full of vultures.”

She hid a nervous smile. “They’ll be upset you skipped it.”

“I don’t care,” he said flatly.

“So… what’s the plan instead?”

He looked at her, his pulse picking up. It had been years since he’d felt truly wanted. Vivienne had treated him like background noise, but looking at Sienna now, sharp, loyal, and fierce, he wanted her more than anything.

“Got plans tonight?” he asked, his voice dropping lower.

She shook her head, biting her lip as she caught the shift between them.

“Then you’re stuck hanging out with your boss. This is your fault I’m staying in, so you owe me.”

He stepped closer, sliding an arm around her waist and pulling her against him. Her breath caught as their eyes locked. As his hand drifted lower, he felt the cold press of metal against her thigh.

“Seriously? A gun?” he whispered.

She smiled, a dangerous glint in her eyes. “Don’t worry about that.”

He pressed his mouth to hers, and the rest of the world outside the penthouse faded away completely. In one smooth motion, he lifted her off her feet. His hands fumbled with the zipper on her dress, and in his rush, he heard the soft, expensive rip of silk tearing.

“You owe me a new dress,” she gasped against his neck.

“I’ll buy you a thousand,” he answered, his hands working at her waist.

Revenge could wait until tomorrow. Tonight, for the first time in his life, he was finally the one holding the power.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​