le, then at the three women who had presented them. Their faces w

," he said, his vo

lease. It's just a small gesture. W

ur feelings," Donavan stated, turning to lea

the constant emotional manipul

heavy, cold platinum cufflink from the Cains slipped ou

but in the tense silence of t

the object on the floor. Danielle, ever

with suspicion as she examined the stylize

er hand, his movement quic

ion only heighte

" Jinnie stated, her brow furr

us?" Kortney demanded, stepping cl

ayer about to lose their most powerful piece. They were terrified of losing their access to t

edge to his voice. He watched their faces p

heir has to marry from one of our families! I

nielle insisted, her voice tight.

em, that his life was a commodity to be used for their purposes. In his first life, he h

is," he said slowly, "is a family sig

he desperate assumption that it must be a new d

n the air, "it is not from the Masons. Not f

eir minds refusing to

a relieved laugh, her brain seizing on the most palatable ex

d slid it onto his shirt cuff, her touch

pulling out her platinum card. "A litt

ith their phones. They were celebrating. They had misinterpreted his words as a joke, a t

to laugh, or scream, or both. He felt like a ghost

-room opened, and Jeb limped in, a

his eyes immediately landing on the gif

ntly turned their full attention to Jeb, th

ey said, playfully tapping hi

a conspiratorial wink, "sin

limited-edition watch and hande

fts meant for him. He watched as Jeb feigned rel

seen

e four of them in their perfect, self-contained

st. It was a promise of a different future. A f

t used to i