Chapter 2Betrayal at the Pier

"Boss, just leave."

I don't know who moved first. Someone knocked the gun out of my hand and shoved me into the sea.

The salt wind turned to rain against my skin, and by the time I dragged myself back to shore, I was soaked through.

I swam back to the harbor, looked down at the countless scars crisscrossing my wrists, and dialed the one number I trusted.

"Burn the harbor down tonight."

By the time the fire tore through the ships, I was standing on the shore, watching Hallahan City's biggest pier burn to ash with my own eyes.

The flames hadn't even died down when Carter and Travis came running.

"Boss, you blew up the harbor. How are the people who work the docks supposed to make a living now? How could you be so reckless?"

Carter jabbed a finger at me. Travis let out a long sigh.

"No wonder Jules couldn't stand you. Doing this just breaks everyone's heart!"

I looked at the two of them, one who'd grown up alongside me and one who'd watched me grow up. The two people I was closest to in the world, and neither of them was on my side.

"Why wouldn't either of you tell me? Five years! You knew exactly how much I was suffering for five straight years!"

My voice broke as I demanded an answer. Carter rubbed the tip of his nose.

"Boss, but you have the harbor. You have money. You have everything. Nicolas has nothing left but Jules!"

He looked genuinely indignant.

"If you weren't so controlling, why would Jules ever leave you? You're the problem. Not them."

Travis nodded.

"Every time Nicolas came to see me, his arms were full of gifts. The year I was sick, he was the one running around taking care of everything. Keeping his and Jules's secret felt like the least we could do to repay him."

Carter picked up where he left off.

"Nicolas's always been good to me. The year you had me put in the hospital, he was the one who stayed by my side day and night."

I stood there, frozen. I couldn't tell if what I felt was shock or nausea. Every single thing they were grateful to Nicolas for, I was the one who'd told him to do it. Nicolas hadn't lifted a finger on his own, and he'd still won over every heart around me.

I laughed.

"All of that. I was the one who told him to do it."

Carter blinked, caught off guard.

"So what? A good man is judged by his actions, not by whose idea they were. As far as we're concerned, Nicolas's the one who actually helped us!"

Travis gripped my hand, his voice heavy with meaning.

"Max, do this for our sake, if nothing else. Let them go. Nicolas looked after Jules for you for five whole years. That wasn't easy for him. And besides, Jules is already pregnant."

My mouth opened, but no words came out. Carter pulled an invitation out of his jacket.

"Nicolas said the only way anyone in Hallahan City will believe he's not some homewrecker is if you're the one standing up as the officiant."

I looked at the invitation, and a strange, total calm settled over me.

"Fine. I'll be there."

…

Three days later, every outlet in Hallahan City was running the story of Jules's wedding.

[BACK FROM THE DEAD? NO, THE MCKENNA HEIRESS FAKED HER OWN DEATH TO CHASE TRUE LOVE!]

I walked into the church in a black suit. Every eye in the room locked onto me instantly.

"The tyrant's here. This wedding just got interesting."

"He's not about to start shooting, is he? We'd better stay clear just in case."

Jules walked up to me with Nicolas at her side, her voice dripping with mockery.

"At least you know what's good for you."

She shoved the officiant's script into my hands. It slipped straight through my fingers and hit the floor.

"You!"

Jules froze at the sight of my red-rimmed eyes. She followed my stare to Nicolas's wedding suit, and the words died in her throat.

It was a navy satin suit, the very one Jules had designed herself five years ago and flown overseas to have custom-made. It had been my engagement gift to her.

The day we got engaged, I'd knelt down and proposed with an emerald ring I'd won at auction. Now that same flash of green sat on the ring finger of Nicolas's left hand.

My face darkened. The last thread of hope in my chest tore apart completely.

Jules cleared her throat.

"The ceremony's starting. Get up on the platform."

I looked down at the dust-covered script on the floor that said: To hold your hand and grow old together...

My stomach churned. My hands curled into fists.

"Not a chance!"

I turned to walk away, but Jules threw a photograph at me. In it, my sister, studying abroad on the other side of the world, was bound hand and foot with a knife pressed to her throat.

"Are you sure you want to leave?"