*Riding South spoilers below*
Trapped inside Tenney House and at the mercy of his father, Camilla and South are forced to face their greatest fears in order to bring down the Gentleman's Network--an organization that trades in secrets.
But in order...
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My brother and I made our way through clusters of guests who congratulated me and told me what a lucky girl Camilla was.
I told them I was the lucky one and left it at that, politely declining their offers to join their conversation, before we finally exited the Yacht Club.
"So, you and Camilla," Easton said. Hands still buried in his charcoal gray pants pockets as we walked through the back door and headed towards the parking lot. "I'm happy for you. I mean, you look really happy together."
Right now, Camilla was anything but happy. And besides, Easton knew Camilla and I were being forced into this marriage, but that wasn't what he pulled me aside to talk about—he was stalling.
A warm breath of night air blew off the harbor, whipping through my hair and blowing open my suit coat.
Easton slowed his steps, seeming at a loss for what he wanted to say or where he was headed—which certainly wasn't to my mom's white Lexus sitting in valet parking.
I didn't want to be angry with my brother, but I couldn't help it. I was angry. At my dad and my sister Nora, and my older brother. I did a quick perimeter check to make sure we wouldn't be seen, then grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, knocking him off balance, and pulled him in close.
"Cut the shit," I told him, sounding as dangerous as I felt. "I know Ma didn't ask you to get something out of the car. She would've had Kim or Agatha do that. You asked me out here for a reason."
My brother hesitated. Gaze dipping to where my fist was wrapped around his shirt. I was so fucking angry with him.
He'd betrayed me. My big brother.
He was working for my dad and likely knew about the plan to shoot Cedric. Out of all my siblings, I'd always been closest with Easton growing up. Now, it felt like I didn't even know the man he'd become.
"South, what are you doing? I'm on your side! Let me go."
His voice was a whisper, but I saw truth on his face for the first time today. So, I let go of Easton's shirt but grabbed hold of his elbow, dragging him towards a white gazebo covered in crawling ivy that was used as a smoke pit.
All the while, I was scanning for movement. The instincts that had been instilled in me during my time as a Navy SEAL raised.
Let them find us, I thought darkly. Let one of my dad's goons or spies show up. At this point, I'd welcome an excuse to be the violent gentleman I'd been trained to be. I hadn't come here tonight unarmed, and I never would again. Not after the last time I'd come to the Newport Yacht Club and been locked in the basement.
But no one did. We were alone in the shadows, save for the valet standing just outside the entrance. Sitting in a patch of grass between the harbor and the parking lot.
