Chapter 2

"Married? Have you lost your damn mind?"

"Didn't she used to go around saying she'd never marry anyone but Lucas? What, her life span just got cut short to today?"

"Eve, if you want the boss's attention, at least make up a lie that isn't brain-dead. If you're going to put on a show, put on a decent one."

The gang howled like I'd told the joke of the century, doubled over, slapping their knees.

Lucas let out a thin, contemptuous snort through his nose, eyeing me like a clown mid-fall. "You say you're getting married. So where's the groom? Some coward who won't even show his face? Call him out, let the boys get a look."

"Yeah! If some guy really is blind enough to marry you, we'll crowd-fund a crate of cheap beer to celebrate — call it a thank-you for never disgusting our boss again!"

Looking at those faces, so certain I was bluffing, all I felt was how absurd it was. I gave a cold laugh and started reaching for the phone in my clutch.

"All right, stop winding her up."

Mia — who'd been playing deaf and dumb in Lucas's arms this whole time — finally spoke, soft and frail.

She lifted a hand toward the palatial estate across the street, completely sealed off by black-suited security. "Eve, I'm really sorry. I just happened to see the bride's name on the placard for that once-in-a-century wedding, and it was the same as yours. I thought it was funny, so I asked Lucas to bring you over for a little joke. If you feel insulted, I apologize."

Before I could even react, Lucas's boys were up like dogs whose tails had been stepped on.

"Mia, what are you apologizing to a woman like that for! She's been after your man day and night — she's got no shame at all!"

"You're too kind. You don't know how deep these slum girls can scheme. You think she's your friend, and the next second she's putting a knife in your back!"

These street thugs had never liked me. In their barren little minds, Mia — blonde, tight dress — was the untouchable goddess of the block, and she and Lucas were made for each other. I was just gutter trash who mooched off them.

I couldn't be bothered with insults that stank of the sewer. I raised my hand toward the estate across the street, packed with luxury cars.

"You idiots — did it ever cross your empty heads that the bride at that wedding today might actually be me?"

A brief, dead silence.

Then the laughter exploded, ten times louder than before.

"Holy shit, Eve, you've actually lost it! Same name by coincidence, and you think you're the bride of that kind of money?"

"Go take a look at yourself. A place like that — you're not even qualified to clean the toilets."

Lucas was bent double. He grabbed a yellow-toothed kid beside him and shoved him at me.

"If you're that hard up, why not settle for Tommy here? Didn't he whistle at you a while back? I'm sure he doesn't mind taking my sloppy seconds."

Tommy rubbed his hands together and gave me a grin that turned my stomach. "Eve, think about it? You stick with me, I guarantee you cheap cigarettes every day of your life."

I didn't spare him a glance.

"I don't have time to waste on you. The bride at that wedding across the street is me. If you don't believe it, drag your own asses over there and look."

Lucas's face went dark at once, something vicious surfacing behind his eyes.

"Eve, are you done? If you want to throw a fit, don't do it on my turf! Today is a big man's wedding day — you have to drag us all down with you like a lunatic?"

Mia put on a look of deep sorrow. "Yes, Eve — even if you're jealous of me, you can't go ruining a wedding between people that important just to feel seen. Piss off the real big shots and people die."