Page 141 of Theirs to Tempt: The Marriage Claim

I scan the other side of the agreement and see the restrictions Lucian and Caleb have placed on Voss’s use of their intelligence network, including a list of people he cannot target.

My name. My mother’s. Elena’s. Piper.

I look at Lucian. “Those restrictions were already there?”

“Yes.”

“For me?”

“For everyone you love.”

His words threaten to make my heart melt. But I can’t let them. Not yet.

I continue reading. They included certain people in their network. Altair Montgomery. Celeste Fallon. The Moretti family. Rosa from the taco shop.

Before I can comment on that, Voss pushes his remaining plaques forward.

“Winner takes all.”

Then Lucian turns to me.

“Choose.”

I stare at him. “Excuse me?”

“The wager.”

“No.”

“You understand the game.”

“I understand that neither choice can guarantee an outcome.”

“Choose anyway.”

My mouth goes dry.

Across from us, Voss watches with open contempt. “This is sentimental theater.”

Caleb’s eyes remain on mine. “Ignore him.”

“What happens if I choose wrong?”

Lucian answers without hesitation.

“We lose.”

The enormity of his trust terrifies me.

“You’re asking me to risk your network.”

“Our network,” Caleb says.

I look at him.

He doesn’t correct himself.

Lucian takes one of the gold-edged plaques and places it in my palm.