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‘This is good for Grace,” he added. “I’ll explain later.”
I spotted Fitzy moving through the crowd, which parted for him. Everyone wanted to steal a second of his time. He was a powerful man and the richest in the world. The Adams family owned banks, railroads, tech companies, and dozens of holding companies. They were once governors, senators, and even presidents.
He ignored those who attempted to gain his attention, eyes fixed on Grace.
His target.
As Fitzy looked at her, hatred scrolled across his face. Despite his age, the old man looked at least twenty years younger. His skin was nearly free of wrinkles, and his hair was without an ounce of gray. I often wondered if he was a cyborg.
Fitzy didn’t seem like a real person. He didn’t act like one, either.
“Gentleman,” he said to the group, tugging at his cufflinks. “Staying out of trouble, I hope.”
“Of course, sir,” Hunter replied.
I nodded in response.
Drake raised his glass.
Fitzy’s head snapped to Grace, and then he extended his hand. “It’s time. Come with me.”
Worry furrowed her brows as she looked to me for advice. I couldn’t help with her grandfather, even though I wanted to take her away from this place.
“What’s going on?” Grace asked him.
With a wicked glint in his eyes, Fitzy yanked on her arm. “You know better than to speak out of turn.”
ChapterThirty-Three
GRACE
My grandfather tightened his grip around my wrist, dragging me toward the stage at the front of the room.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“I already warned you once, Grace.” He fired an angry look at me. “Don’t make me tell you again, or there will be consequences.”
“I’m not being difficult,” I said in my defense. “I want to know how to act. I can’t play my part if you don’t coach me.”
He never let me near anyone as a child, not without going over the proper way to sit, speak, and act. Grandfather even brought a woman to the house once a week to teach me how to be a lady. Of course, I tossed all those lessons out the window the second I moved in with the Colonel.
“Act grateful,” Fitzy said as we walked toward the front of the room. “Like this is a dream come true, and you’re thrilled to be here.” He yanked on my arm the rest of the way. “And when you’re asked a question, the answer is yes. Nothing else.” He stopped at the stairs, his eyes burning a hole through me. “Do you understand me?”
“The answer is yes,” I repeated. “I got it.”
I followed him onto the stage. The Marshalls stood in the front row beside the Salvatores and the rest of the town’s founding families. Cole joined his parents and the twins, who wore bored looks and suits.
“Thank you all for coming,” my grandfather said into the microphone. “Tonight, I brought you here to introduce my granddaughter, Grace, and share some exciting news for The Founders.”
He raised his hand to beckon someone, but I couldn’t see who until Rhys, his younger brother, and his parents joined us on the stage, smiles tipping up the corners of their mouths.
Grandfather patted my shoulder, smiling as if he didn’t hate me. I slapped on the fakest smile in history and looked at the crowd. My stomach twisted into knots whenever I was around my grandfather, and I could hardly breathe.
Rhys moved beside me. We were so close I could feel his body heat radiating off him.
I wanted to run.
Scream.
