Page 214 of Wicked Brutal

“Such as?”

She lifts the envelope slightly. “Apparently impossible wedding planners.”

His mouth curves. “Anything else?”

She looks thoughtful for a moment. “I’ll let you know after I speak to Celeste. I don’t want you becoming insufferably pleased with yourself.”

“Too late.”

Ally smiles. Not mocking him. Not at his expense. Just enough to make him feel charming, wanted, successful. God, she’s good.

And for one second, watching them from twenty feet away, I understand exactly how people fail to see men like Victor coming. Because he doesn’t look like a monster under fluorescent lights. He looks expensive. Polished. Charming when he wants to be. He makes Ally smile. Nobody looking at this knows she’s performing because her father threatened the little boy she’s practically raised. Nobody knows about Marianne. Evelyn. The dead wives. Nobody knows Bella pulled Ally aside yesterday and told her Victor doesn’t want a wife — he wants something that behaves. Nobody knows Ally dumped the whole conversation into our group chat afterward: Bella asking whether she loved him, Bella saying she could tell Ally wanted to crawl out of her skin every time Victor touched her, Bella telling her that if she had a way out she should take it, and if she didn’t have one, find one, because men like Victor don’t get easier once the wedding is over.

Victor reaches inside his coat again. “There is something else.”

“You really did come prepared.”

“I usually do.”

“I’ve noticed.”

Another tiny stroke straight down his fucking ego. Then the black box appears. Everything inside me turns cold. The boys go quiet.

Victor looks down as he opens it — which is why he misses Ally’s reaction. Her fingers stop moving against Celeste’s envelope. Her smile freezes. Just for half a heartbeat. Her eyes go to the box. And there she is. My Ally. Scared. Not of the diamond. Of everything it means.

Celeste is information. A thread. Access. Something she asked for because we need it. This is different. This is the wedding made physical. Switzerland. Victor. Roman. A claim everyone can see.

The box opens. The diamond catches the atrium lights. Jesus fucking Christ, it’s enormous. Ally stares one second too long. Then Victor looks up. And she’s ready.

Her hand comes lightly to her chest. “Oh my God.” Victor smiles. “Victor.”

“You approve?”

She looks down at the ring again, then up at him. “It’s beautiful.”

He takes it from the box. “You sound surprised.”

Her smile turns softer. “Maybe a little.” His brows lift.

Ally glances back at the ring. “You chose it?”

“I did.”

“By yourself?”

“Yes.”

Something like genuine surprise touches her face, and she lets it stay. “You did very well.” Victor looks deeply pleased with himself. Ally sees it, of course. “You have excellent taste. I simply wasn’t aware it extended to jewelry.”

His mouth twitches. “Should I be offended?”

“Please don’t. You’ve just given me a very large diamond.”

He laughs. She smiles. Sweet. Easy. Exactly enough.

Victor reaches for her left hand. My stomach drops. Ally gives it to him. Her fingers twitch once. He doesn’t notice. I do. He slides the ring onto her finger. Perfect fucking fit. Of course.

Ally stares down at it. The silence lasts maybe two seconds — long enough for me to know she’s feeling every ounce of it, not long enough for Victor to question her.