“His name is Alex. He’s my stepbrother,” I admit, the words sticking in my throat. “My mother married his father when I was fourteen.”
Rina’s eyes widen. “You have a family? I always thought…”
“I don’t,” I cut her off firmly. “Not anymore. I left them five years ago, and until the frat party, I hadn’t seen or spoken to any of them since.”
“But why—”
“I don’t talk about it.” My tone makes it clear this line of questioning is over. “It’s in the past, and that’s where it’s staying.”
She studies me for a long moment. “Okay. But if you need to talk, or if that guy gives you any more trouble…”
“I know.” I force a brittle smile. “Thanks.”
Rina nods and continues down the hallway toward her own dressing room. I step back into mine, closing the door with a soft click. The small space feels suffocating suddenly, too full of the lingering presence of Alex and the ghost of conversationsI can’t bring myself to have.
I sit heavily on the small stool in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. For a moment, I don’t recognize the person looking back at me—this stranger with haunted eyes and too many secrets.
Alex won’t stay away. I know it as surely as I know my own name. Whatever brought him to the Siren night after night isn’t resolved. And deep down, in a place I refuse to examine too closely, part of me doesn’t want him to stay away.
That’s the most dangerous truth of all.
6
Alex
I STAB AT MY eggs Benedict with unnecessary force, watching the yolk burst and bleed across my plate. The sight of destruction should be satisfying, but I barely register it. My mind is still trapped in the Siren, replaying Vincent’s cold eyes and the way he stood his ground while I walked away like a fucking coward. The memory burns in my throat, bitter as the overpriced coffee I keep sipping to hide my scowl from Natalie.
“And then Mikhail suggests we leverage the property against the new development on the east side, which Father obviously—” Natalie pauses, her fork suspended halfway to her mouth. “Are you even listening to me?”
I drag my attention back to my sister, forcing my face into something resembling interest. “Yeah, of course. Mikhail. Property. East side.”
She sets her fork down with a click against the fine china.The restaurant hums around us, filled with the quiet murmur of Sunday brunch conversations. The kind of place where a bloody nose would cause a scandal, and where the Orlov name gets us the best table without a reservation.
“You haven’t heard a word I’ve said for the past fifteen minutes.” It’s not a question. Natalie doesn’t ask questions when she already knows the answer.
I shrug, pushing a piece of bacon through the spreading yolk. “Sorry. Distracted.”
“Obviously.” She studies me over the rim of her mimosa, eyes narrowed. The same Orlov blue as mine, as Father’s. The same ability to strip a person bare with a single look. “What’s going on with you? You’ve been acting strange lately.”
I’ve been acting strange since Vincent fucking Bell decided to reappear and turn my world inside out. Since I watched him writhe on stage covered in gold glitter while strangers drooled over him. Since I grabbed him by the throat and still couldn’t make him tell me why he left without a word.
“Just thinking,” I say instead, taking another sip of coffee.
“About?” Natalie leans forward, all pretense of brunch small talk abandoned. My sister never could resist a puzzle, especially when that puzzle is me.
I tap my fingers against the table. The truth sits on my tongue, heavy and dangerous. Saying Vincent’s name out loud to Natalie feels like crossing a line I’m not ready to cross. But I need information, and Natalie is my best shot at getting it without involving Father.
“Do you remember when Vincent left?”
Natalie’s eyebrows shoot up toward her hairline. “Vincent? That’s what’s got you brooding into your eggs?”
“I’m not brooding,” I mutter, even though I absolutely am.
“You haven’t mentioned his name in years.” She sits back, arms crossed over her chest. “Why the sudden interest in ancient history?”
I shrug again, aiming for casual and probably missing by a mile. “Just been thinking about it lately. About how strange it was that he disappeared overnight.”
“It was a long time ago.” Her voice softens slightly. “Why dig it up now?”
