Chapter 1Three years after my fiancé got killed, I hung every traitor's head at his grave.
Then took his ashes, gave Colt my casino, and said goodbye to Chicago for good.
On my way to O'Hare, a wedding convoy blocked the road.
Leading the parade? Colt.
Curious, I followed.
Standing outside the Venetian, I saw it. A huge-ass wedding photo.
My DEAD fiancé—suit and all—was kissing my best friend Ramona Quillan.
I walked in. Hands shaking.
Zachary Lane was up on stage announcing:
"Ramona's two months along. I'm gonna be a dad!"
I dropped the urn. The crash made everyone turn.
Colt froze. Then pulled his gun on ME.
Uncle Brock—who'd known me since I was a kid—stepped in front of Ramona.
"Zach and Ramona have been hiding from you for three years."
"She's got a baby now. Just... let it go. Let them be happy."
I looked around.
All my people surrounded them. Protecting them.
Without a word, I shot out the crystal chandelier.
"Cross me? You're dead."
"So WHO'S FIRST?"
---
I pressed my gun to Zachary's head. Finger on the trigger. Couldn't move.
Bang.
Colt shot my gun to pieces.
My palm split wide open. Blood all over the place.
My lips went white. Colt looked away.
"Boss, you wanna shoot me? Do it. Wanna beat my ass? Fine."
"But this is Ramona's wedding. I'm not letting you screw it up for her."
"Yeah, Boss. You can't make someone love you."
That was Jade.
Years ago her kid was dying. I gave her ten grand. Kid lived.
I laughed. Bitter as hell.
Zachary pushed through everybody.
"Don't blame me, Avery. It's your fault. You controlled everything—who I talked to, what I said. I wasn't gonna be your puppet forever."
"Faking my death? Yeah, I screwed you over. But it's done. Get over it."
He said it like it was nothing.
My eyes stung.
"Get over it? I was a mess for three years. Every night I wanted to die. Be with you. What about that?"
"And you guys."
I looked at Colt, Uncle Brock, Jade. Nobody looked back.
"You all watched me lose it. Nobody was gonna tell me?"
"If I didn't figure it out, you were just gonna lie forever?"
Zachary blinked. Shook his head.
"Nah. We would've told you."
"After Ramona had the baby, I was gonna come back for the casino. I mean..."
He stopped. Trying to find the words.
"You ran it long enough. Time to let someone else take over."
My eyes went huge. I couldn't fucking believe this.
"What the hell? You used me?"
Zachary came closer. Touched my hair like before.
"Used you? Come on. You're tough. You're mean. Best partner I ever had."
I slapped him hard.
"Zachary!"
Ramona ran over, got in front of him. Eyes all red, pointing at me.
"Avery, you can't just hit him!"
"Look, I know you're mad. But love? Nobody picks that."
"Me and Zach love each other. Can't you just let us be?"
I stared at the blue iris tattoo on her arm.
We got them in high school. She said it meant friendship. Best friends forever.
Ramona put her arm behind her. Wouldn't look at me.
"Leave."
Zachary wiped the blood off his mouth.
"That slap? We're even. Get the stock transfer ready. I'll come by later."
Someone pushed me. I fell down the stairs.
My hand tore open more. Blood and tears all over my face.
My phone went off. Grandma.
"Avery, you there yet? You know what, let's just do treatment here. No point going overseas."
Grandma's heart was messed up for years.
All I wanted? Make Zachary pay, then get Grandma help abroad.
Today I was supposed to meet that doctor.
"Grandma, I'm still in Chicago. Got something to deal with. You rest, okay?"
I hung up fast. Didn't want her to hear I was upset.
Back at the casino, I struck a match.
The whole ring went up in minutes.
Chapter 2
Zachary showed up while I was smoking by the fire.
He looked at me. Let out a breath.
"Feel better?"
He came over. Grabbed my cigarette.
"You wanna burn it down? Fine. I don't care."
Colt's car screeched up. He saw the casino—totally trashed.
His voice broke.
"Boss, what the hell?"
I looked at him.
"It's mine. I can burn it."
Colt pulled out a contract.
"Boss, you forgot. You already signed the casino over to me."
My head started spinning.
"I saved all the files. Sent them to Zach already."
My chest got tight.
Zachary smiled at me.
"Still pissed? Go for it. Keep going."
My hands were shaking. I couldn't breathe right.
"Colt, what'd I ever do to you? Why you doing this?"
He looked away.
"Boss, I know you were good to me. But Ramona didn't care I was homeless."
"She got me clothes. Let me come over for holidays."
"Little things, maybe. But first time I felt like I had people."
I laughed. Pissed-off laugh. Almost yelling.
"She bought that stuff with MY money! And I told her to help you out!"
"Colt... you got a thing for her?"
Silence.
Colt just stared at me.
"Don't matter. I'm picking Ramona. Every time."
My stomach dropped.
"Fine. Don't forget you said that."
I turned around and walked out.
That night, I gave everything to the media.
Zachary faking his death. The wedding. Everything.
[Zachary Lane fakes death to marry best friend—Avery battles depression for three years]
Comments exploded.
"What kind of piece of shit does this?"
"Left his girl for her best friend? That's fucked up."
"Trash. Both of them. Total trash."
I didn't sleep that night.
Morning came, my phone wouldn't stop.
"Ms. Reeves, deal's off!"
"Avery, you're paying me back for this mess!"
I'm like what the hell.
Then opened the news. Hands shaking.
Picture of me in a short dress, guys all around, drinks everywhere.
Headline:
[Avery Reeves whores herself out at clubs—source says she fucked her way to the top.]
[No wonder Zachary would rather die than stay with her]
Chapter 3
I squeezed my phone. Swallowed hard. Tasted blood.
After college, Zachary's mom was in the ICU. He was broke.
I took the club manager's deal—serve drinks, get paid up front.
That night he picked me up after my shift. Grabbed me tight. Cried like crazy.
"I'm sorry, Avery. I'm such a loser. I'll make this up to you, I swear."
Later he made it big. Opened the casino.
First thing? He got those club photos back. Deleted them right in front of me.
But he kept them. Fucking liar.
I put my hands over my face. Started crying. Kept trying to stop but I couldn't.
Then my phone went off. Zachary's ringtone.
Seeing "Hubby" on my screen made me sick.
"Hey. You saw?"
His voice came through all distant.
"You get it now?"
I bit down hard.
"Get what?"
Zachary laughed.
"Stop acting tough, Avery."
"Here's the deal. You tell everyone me and Ramona were together the whole time. Say you made me stay with you. I take the pictures down. Deal?"
I started shaking. My jaw hurt.
"Zachary, why the fuck would I?"
"You want sorry? Fuck off."
He wasn't surprised.
"Fine. Then I'll make sure Grandma sees what her precious granddaughter's really been up to."
Everything went black. I stumbled into the wall.
"You—"
He cut me off.
"One hour. Or I loop those pictures in her room."
I bit my lip till it bled. Eyes bloodshot. Threw my phone across the room.
An hour later, I walked into the Lane family party.
Everyone staring. Like I'm trash.
"Damn. Tough girl's a hooker."
"Acts all high and mighty. Turns out she's just spreading her legs."
"Disgusting. Can't believe I worked for her all these years."
I kept my face blank. Acted like I couldn't hear a damn thing.
Ramona walked over. Grabbed my hand. Smiling.
"Avery, I'm really glad you're here. You don't need to apologize."
I pulled back. Dropped my head.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Quillan. You and Mr. Lane were always together. I got in the way. My fault."
Everyone around us gasped.
"Wait. They were together first?"
"See? Ms. Quillan's way hotter. Why'd Zach even want her?"
Ramona kept smiling. Waited a beat.
"Avery, you don't sound like you mean it."
Zachary came up. Looked at me.
"Avery. On your knees."
"What?!"
I looked up. My face went hot.
Zachary waved his phone. Grandma's photo on the screen.
I clenched my jaw. Dropped to my knees in front of Ramona.
"Sorry, Ms. Quillan..."
Don't remember how I left.
My phone kept lighting up. News alerts.
I was everywhere.
Then my phone rang. The nurse.
Her voice was shaking.
"Ms. Reeves, get here now!"
"Your grandma saw Ms. Quillan's livestream. She had a heart attack. They're trying to save her!"
