Chapter 0084


    He smirks at me and, predictably, I blush. I scowl, really wishing I didn’t do that all the time.


    “So,” he says, giving me a friendly smile. “Apparently you’re thedy of the hour.”


    “Am I?” I say eagerly, leaning in, hoping this guy can give me a clue about what’s going on. “Do you


    know anything about this?” I look around at all of the guys. “Like, why there are so many guys here?”


    “Because, Fay,” the guy says,ughing. “It’s a meat market. Your dad invited all of these guys here to


    meet you. Specifically, to meet you.” He raises his eyebrows at me, confirming that he means exactly


    what I think he means.


    “Are you serious?” I whisper to him, angry. “My dad is seriously bacheloretting me!?”


    Heughs at that and then nods. “Yeah. Imagine his dismay when your fiancé showed up, too. Luckily,


    he got his kid to distract him.”


    “Oh my god,” I say, shocked, my eyes going to the volleyball game where I see Daniel and Romulus


    giving each other high fives. “Even little Romulus is in on it!?”


    The guyughs again, shaking his head. “They get ‘em young, in this world,” he says, apparently


    enjoying my shock. I turn back to him, then, studying him, and realizing that he’s not enjoying it in a


    nasty way. Instead, he, too, thinks it’s a little bit ridiculous.


    The very real ridiculousness of it all hits me then, and Iugh as well.


    Suddenly, the two of us areughing together, me a little hysterically, him along for the ride.


    “Oh my god,” I say, leaning back in my chair and resting a hand against my chest as theughter starts


    to abate. “I can’t believe this. What is he thinking?!”


    “He’s thinking,” my new friend says, smiling at me gently. “That he has a very pretty new daughter, and


    he wants to see her set up right.”


    I shake my head a little, growing confused and a little worried. I’ve been engaged since birth,


    apparently – an arrangement my father set up. What on earth had changed that he suddenly wants me


    to meet new people?


    “Who are you?” I ask suddenly, cocking my head to the side. I’ve realized, suddenly, that we haven’t


    been introduced. “Are you one of the candidates?”


    He smirks and shrugs. “I am if you want me to be.”


    I can’t help the little smile that creeps onto my lips, then. He’s terribly handsome, this young man with


    the dangerous tattoos climbing all the way up to his neck. And, he’s been really, really nice to me in


    these past few minutes.


    “I’m Ivan,” he says, leaning over the side of his chair to extend his hand for a shake.


    I take his hand on instinct, but my blood goes cold as I realize exactly who he is.


    Ivan.


    Ivan.


    “Um,” I say, staring at him with wide eyes, not knowing what else to say.


    Because in front of me is one of the most dangerous men in the underworld, second only perhaps to


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    Kent himself.


    Ivan, the young Kingpin of the city’s heroin trade.


    And – if I’m being honest with myself? For a second, I consider it.


    Because he is really, seriously cute.