Chapter 4
Marcus
The dining room is already filling up when I spot her at the entrance, and for a second, I forget exactly what I’m supposed to be doing.
Mia Coines, in an emerald-green dress that skims over her curves and glows against her skin, stands framed by the soft light.
She is breathtaking. The color sets off her eyes, makes her hair shimmer in loose waves around her shoulders.
For a moment, all the years between us seem to vanish, and I’m caught by the way her presence seems to pull the air out of the room.
I remember running into her in the hallway, the heat of her body when I steadied her, the surprise in her eyes when she realized I knew her name. I tried to play it off, casual, as if it was nothing. The truth is, it’s not nothing at all. I know all about Mia Coines.
In fact, I’ve been hoping to run into her ever since I heard she’d be here for Sarah’s wedding.
When I first started investigating Jason, Mia was the first thread I pulled.
Her name was everywhere in the early reports.
Two years ago, she was almost his bride.
The wedding that didn’t happen—Jason’s sudden disappearance, Jarrod’s closed mouth, no explanations.
I was supposed to be there, but business in Berlin kept me away.
And now here she is, looking nothing like a woman haunted by old wounds.
She glows, a little nervous, a little out of place, but so beautiful I can’t breathe.
When she glances up, our eyes meet for a split second.
She looks away first, her cheeks coloring, but not before I catch something raw and uncertain in her expression.
I know I have to gain her trust if I want to get close to the truth about Jason.
She’s at the center of this mess, whether she wants to be or not.
Sarah adores her, Jason’s watching her, and Jarrod…
Jarrod would do anything to keep her safe.
I feel that same instinct burning in me now, but it’s tangled with something I don’t even want to name. Not yet.
Tyler’s already half in love, and Alexander is sizing her up like a chess piece.
I know both of them well enough to recognize the storm brewing beneath the surface.
But it’s Mia I can’t take my eyes off. The way she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, the way she pretends not to notice that every man in the room is watching her.
She’s strength and vulnerability in equal measure.
Tonight, I promise myself, I’ll find a way to talk to her again. To hear her side, to see for myself what’s left of the girl who almost became Jason’s wife.
I saw how quickly Jason moved on, saw how Sarah suddenly became the new center of his universe. Saw how Mia all but disappeared from the society pages, from her usual circles, as if she’d folded in on herself and vanished.
Tonight, she looks anything but invisible.
I want to talk to her—no, I need to. I need to gain her trust, to find out what really happened between her and Jason. If there’s anyone who knows what he’s capable of, it’s Mia.
But that isn’t why my heart is pounding now. It’s the way she moves, the way she bites her lip as she scans the room, the way the green dress makes her look both regal and achingly real.
From my seat near the fireplace, I keep half an eye on Mia as she settles at Sarah’s table.
Jason slides in beside her, that predatory smile plastered on his face.
I watch as he leans in, saying something only she can hear.
She stiffens, turning slightly away, and the look on her face says it all.
Disgust, or maybe just disbelief. She’s clearly not buying what he’s selling.
Jason, undeterred, reaches out as if he’s about to touch her hair, but she dodges smoothly, busying herself with her water glass.
It’s obvious to anyone paying attention that she wants nothing to do with him.
I make a mental note of her body language—tension in her shoulders, the forced smile, how her eyes flick anywhere but at him.
When Sarah returns from greeting another guest, Jason instantly shifts his attention, laying on the charm so thick it makes my teeth ache.
His hand slides to Sarah’s back, and he whispers something in her ear that makes her laugh, oblivious.
Watching him work is like watching a con in motion.
I feel a surge of anger—not just for Sarah, but for Mia too.
What an ass. He’s playing both sides, performing for the room, for Sarah, for himself.
It only gets worse when Jason stands and taps his glass for attention. “To my beautiful bride,” he declares, voice smooth as silk. “I waited my whole life to find the right one, and now I have. Here’s to love, luck, and a future as bright as her smile.”
A smattering of polite applause follows, but I can’t help but roll my eyes. Even Alexander, from his seat at the far end of the table, looks like he’s biting his tongue. Jason beams, soaking in the attention, his gaze sliding back to Mia as if daring her to challenge his version of the story.
I hear someone step up beside me. Tyler, holding a glass of whiskey, nods at Jason with a smirk. “That guy is full of shit,” he mutters, his tone just loud enough for me to hear.
I snort, shaking my head. “You don’t say.”
Tyler watches Jason for a long moment, then glances at me. “He’s got everyone fooled. Well—almost everyone.”
I follow his gaze, letting it rest on Mia, who looks like she’d rather be anywhere else. “Not everyone,” I murmur. “She sees through him. We need to talk to her, Tyler. She might know more than she realizes.”
Tyler takes a sip of his drink, his eyes never leaving Mia. “She’s already had a run-in with Jason. No one should have to go through that twice.”
Tyler and I lean against the back wall, the crackle of the fire hiding our low voices. Jason keeps the floor, launching into another round of flowery praise for Sarah. The crowd is eating it up, but Tyler and I share a look that says exactly what we think.
He sips his whiskey, never taking his eyes off Jason. “You planning something, Marcus?”
I glance at him, weighing whether to admit it. But there’s no point pretending, not with Tyler. “I am. Or at least, I’m thinking about it.”
He gives me a slow, approving nod. “Good. I was starting to worry you’d lost your edge.”
I look back at Jason, my jaw tight. “He’s hiding something, Ty. The way he looks at Sarah, the way he always redirects attention—none of it feels right.”
Jason is still talking, glass raised high. “Here’s to Sarah, the love of my life, my soulmate, my everything. May our lives be as joyful as tonight!”
Sarah looks bashful, beaming at him, but Mia’s face says something else. She’s pale, tight-lipped, her fingers twisting her napkin until the edges fray. I see her eyes flick to the door, her whole body tensed like she’s ready to bolt.
My phone vibrates. I slip away from the crowd and answer quietly, ducking into a small alcove. It’s the private investigator.
He gets straight to the point. “Any news from your end? Jason’s trail is cold again. We know he’s a con, but nothing concrete. You said his ex-fiancée’s there?”
“Yes. Mia Coines. She’s Sarah’s maid of honor.”
“Get what you can from her. Anything she remembers, anything strange about how it ended. If she has records, emails, texts—whatever. She could help us crack this thing.”
I hang up and glance back at the tables. Mia is slipping away from her seat, shoulders hunched, eyes glassy and unfocused. Jason is still soaking in the applause, oblivious to the damage he’s doing.
I move fast, intercepting her before she makes it out the door. “Leaving so soon?” I ask, voice soft but firm.
She jumps a little, then lets out a shaky breath. “Just needed some air.”
I nod, gently steering her toward a quieter corner of the lobby. “Let me get you a drink first. You look like you could use one.”
She tries for a smile, but it falters. Up close, I see how shaken she is. Her hands tremble as she brushes a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Whiskey? Or wine?” I ask, hoping the question grounds her.
“Wine. Please,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper.
I signal to a passing server, order two glasses of wine, and guide her to a small sofa away from the crowd. When the drinks arrive, I hand one to her and keep my tone gentle. “Rough night?”
She lets out a small laugh, but there’s no humor in it. “You could say that.”
I watch her, steady and patient. I know I need her trust. I need her to feel safe enough to talk, to help me—and maybe, to let me help her too.
I let Mia take a sip of her wine, watching her carefully. She keeps her eyes fixed on the glass, shoulders stiff.
I decide to tread lightly. “You doing okay? I know being around Jason can’t be easy.”
Her jaw tightens. “I’d rather not talk about him, if that’s all right.”
I nod, raising my hands in surrender. “Fair enough.” But I keep my eyes on her, silently promising that if she does want to talk, I’ll listen.
She gulps down more of her wine, shoulders tense, and I’m searching for words that won’t spook her when I catch Alexander making a beeline for us from across the room.
He walks up to the bar, ignoring the laughter and small talk around him, and claims the empty stool next to Mia with his usual, quiet authority.
He orders a scotch, neat, then glances sideways at her, not bothering with small talk. “Long night?” he asks, voice smooth and almost disinterested, but I can see the spark of calculation in his eyes. He’s always been good at reading people, especially when he wants to put them on edge.
Mia stiffens, clearly annoyed. “You could say that.”
Alexander sips his drink, then fixes her with that cool, unreadable stare. “You’re handling it well, considering the company you’re forced to keep.”
She turns to face him, jaw tight. “I’m not here for the company,” she says, “but some people just can’t help making themselves the center of attention, can they?”
I watch Alexander’s mouth twitch in a faint, knowing smile. “People like that always have something to hide,” he says, voice low and pointed.
Something in his tone presses exactly the wrong button. Mia snaps back, “He always needs the spotlight. That’s how he hides what he’s really doing.” She hears herself, then groans, and pushes her empty glass forward. “I need another drink.”
Alexander and I exchange a look. That was more than she meant to give away.
Alexander leans closer, but this time he drops the teasing. “Tyler filled me in,” he murmurs to me, not bothering to lower his voice much. “You’re not as subtle as you think.”
I shoot him a look. “I wasn’t trying to be. I just want to protect my niece.” I let the words hang in the air, and see Mia’s head snap up in surprise.
Mia looks between us, realization dawning. “You’re all…you’re actually worried about him. About what he might do.”
There’s a moment of charged silence, the three of us circled in the glow of the bar. I nod, letting her see the sincerity in my eyes. “We are. And we want to help. But we can’t do it without you.”
Mia bites her lip, tension in her posture. Then she lets out a sigh, the tension slipping from her shoulders for just a moment. “How can I help?” Her voice is small, uncertain, but she looks up at me with real honesty.
I keep my answer straightforward. “We need to stop Jason. Or at least slow things down until we have something solid. He’s dangerous, Mia. You of all people would know that better than anyone else in the room.”
She glances over at the head table, where Sarah and Jason are laughing together, Sarah’s whole world orbiting the man beside her. “I don’t think that’s even possible,” she says quietly, shaking her head. “She loves him. If this falls apart, she’ll be devastated.”
I lower my voice, leaning closer. “She’ll be even more devastated if she goes through with the wedding and finds out what he’s really like.”
Before Mia can respond, Tyler slips into the circle, easy grin and open posture instantly changing the energy around us. I see Mia relax as soon as he appears—her shoulders drop, her lips even hint at a smile. Something inside me tightens. Tyler’s always had that effect on people.
“I talked to Sarah about a prenup,” Tyler says, picking up right where we left off.
“Tried to feel her out, see if she’d protect herself.
She won’t budge. She’s too deep in it with him, won’t hear a bad word.
” He looks at Mia, eyes warm and direct.
“Maybe you can talk to her. You’re her best friend. She’ll listen to you, if anyone.”
There it is—that flicker in Mia’s eyes, the softening at Tyler’s encouragement. I catch the way she looks at him, just a little longer than she needs to, the hint of trust already blooming. Jealousy sparks low in my chest, but I tamp it down.
I focus on Mia, trying to keep my own voice gentle. “Tyler’s right. She trusts you, Mia. Maybe you’re the only one who can reach her.”
Mia nods slowly, her resolve building even as doubt clouds her eyes. “I’ll try. But I don’t know if I’ll make a difference. She’s…she’s never looked at anyone the way she looks at him.”
Tyler flashes that playful grin of his, nudging Mia gently. “You don’t have to fix it all yourself. We’re in this together.”
Alexander lets out a quiet, skeptical huff, swirling his scotch. I roll my eyes, not bothering to hide my sarcasm. “I’ve already warned her about your womanizing ways, little brother.”
Tyler laughs, unfazed, shooting me a wink. “Come on, Marcus, don’t scare her off before I get a chance to work my charm.”
Mia smiles, but I can see she’s rolling her eyes too, though there’s a hint of color in her cheeks. She’s not immune to him—none of them ever are.
Alexander smirks over the rim of his glass. “I’d be more worried about Sarah than Mia.”
Tyler just shrugs, still grinning at Mia. “You see what I have to deal with?” he says, leaning in closer. “Lucky for you, I’m immune to peer pressure.”
I shake my head, but there’s an ease to this back-and-forth that breaks some of the tension around us. For a second, it almost feels like a normal wedding weekend, almost.
But underneath the banter, I know what’s at stake. And we’re running out of time.
The teasing dies down for a moment, the three of us sharing a look. I can see the worry in Tyler’s eyes and the grim set of Alexander’s jaw. I know we can’t keep skirting the truth.
I turn to Mia, letting my voice go quiet but clear. “Mia, you need to know what we’re really dealing with. Jason isn’t just bad news. He’s a scam artist.”