Page 74 of A Vicious Love

“No.”

He sighed. “Try not to terrify the benefactors.”

“They’re already terrified.”

“Try not to make them wet themselves.”

“Your ambitions for me are suffocating.”

Marcel’s eyes narrowed, reading my face too well. “How bad?”

“Harrington money touched the fire.”

His expression chilled. “Confirmed?”

“Enough.”

“Who in Harlan?”

“Pending.”

“You came here anyway?”

I looked around the room. “If someone picked my birthday launch for a fire, someone in this room might enjoy seeing whether I look damaged.”

“And do you?”

I smiled.

Marcel’s mouth tightened. “Right. Stupid question.”

Emmie appeared beside him, eyes sharp with concern she tried to hide the second she saw my face.

“Jamison.”

“Emmie.”

“You look awful.”

“Your husband already tried to charm me.”

She ignored that, gaze moving to my bandaged hand. “Are you hurt?”

“No.”

“That means yes.”

“It means stop asking questions you won’t enjoy the answers to.”

Her expression hardened. Emmie was one of the only people in Harlan who could look at me like that and keep all her bones arranged correctly. Marcel loved her for it. So did I, though I’d rather chew glass than say it.

“She’s here,” Emmie said softly.

I didn’t ask who. My body knew before my mind allowed it. I turned my head.

And there she was.

Sienna stood across the hall, speaking to an older woman in silver. Smiling faintly.