Ruthless Games

LILY

Even with Neromaking a swift exit, the party continues. I plaster on a smile, make small talk, and mingle, until at last, by one A.M, everyone has finally left the building.

I’m alone.

Well, me and the rest of the staff for the event, cleaning everything up.

“You really don’t have to do this,” one of them eyes me curiously. I’m still in my silk cocktail dress and a pair of bright yellow rubber gloves. “We’ll take care of everything.”

“It’s fine,” I grit out. “It’s my mess to clear up.”

Mine, and my darling husband’s. I angrily shove trash into another bag, stewing over Nero’s disappearing act.

How could he just walk out?

He’s the one who wanted a fancy party, and I bust my ass to make it happen. He couldn’t even pretend to be a happy newlywed for a couple of hours.

“Mrs. Barretti?” a voice interrupts my silent rant.

I startle. Even after spending hours at a party to celebrate my marriage, it feels strange to be called that. I turn. “That’s everything packed up,” the caterer says. “Unless you need…?”

What, my husband?

“Thank you.” I quickly go grab the envelope I set out earlier, filled with a truly astonishing cash tip. “I really appreciate your work. And your discretion,” I add.

She clocks the bills stuffed inside, and her eyes widen. “Of course. Call us anytime. Any time at all.”

She bustles out, and the cleanup crew follow, then finally, I’m left alone.

I glance at the clock, as if I didn’t check it minutes ago.

Nero is still not back. He’s been gone for hours.

And I have no idea where he’s gone… Or even if he’s planning to come home again.

I sink down on a dining chair, looking around the spotless house that couldn’t be less like a home. Sure, we put on a good show tonight, but that’s all it was. A performance.

It this what my life is going to be? I wonder. My marriage?

That word makes me let out a small, bitter laugh. After an entire evening of pretending that I’m happily married to a man who can’t stand the sight of me, it’s a relief to finally let it out.

What the hell am I going to do?

I think about what Agent Greggs told me. ‘Be smart.’ He was right. I have to protect myself. Nero has made it clear that the ring on my finger doesn’t change anything: I’m still just a pawn in whatever twisted games he wants to play. He’s not telling me anything, like why that Sergei guy fired him up, or even who half these people were tonight that he wanted to impress.

I may be his wife, but I’m not his partner.

I pause, wondering where that thought came from. I don’t want to be Nero’s partner in anything! I want to get as far away from the man as it’s safe to do so. I was ready to run, just a week ago, and nothing’s changed about that. Not really.

But how can I leave now? Our marriage may be a sham, but it still means something in the eyes of the law.

I go retrieve my phone upstairs and find Marissa’s number. She was just here at the party with her husband, but they left early. Packing for a trip to the Caribbean.

I’m expecting her voicemail, but she answers on the first ring.

“Hey,” she greets me. “Amazing party, I’m so sorry we slipped away so soon. What did we miss?”

“Nothing much,” I lie. Just a mysterious stand-off between Nero and a menacing man. “I was just going to leave you a message.”