VEIL OF DECEPTION

The invitation felt heavier than it looked. As Ethan studied the golden envelope in his hand, he knew this wasn't just a gala. It was a battlefield.

The Serpentine Gala wasn't about glitz and glamour. It was a place where billionaires whispered behind crystal glasses, where power was brokered in the exchange of knowing glances, and where a single misstep could turn a man into a ghost overnight.

And now, Ethan Cross had been invited.

—

Ethan stepped out of the shower, the steam swirling around him as he grabbed a towel. The city lights stretched endlessly beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, a reminder of just how far he'd climbed.

Dominic sat on the couch, tossing a knife in the air. "You sure this isn't a trap?"

Ethan smirked. "Oh, it's definitely a trap."

Dominic raised an eyebrow. "And you're still walking in?"

Ethan pulled on a crisp black shirt. "We don't win by sitting in the shadows."

Dominic leaned back. "Fine. But if you die, I'm keeping your car."

Ethan chuckled. "Noted."

He grabbed his black suit jacket and the invitation. Tonight, he wasn't just attending a gala.

He was declaring war.

—

The estate hosting the event was a fortress of glass and steel, standing tall against the night sky. High-end cars lined the entrance, their engines humming like the purring of panthers waiting to strike.

Ethan stepped out of his car, adjusting his cufflinks as he took in the scene. The air smelled of expensive cologne, fine cigars, and unspoken intentions.

This was where kings and queens played their most dangerous games.

As he made his way inside, he felt the eyes. Watching. Calculating.

A soft, sultry voice interrupted his thoughts.

"I was starting to think you wouldn't show."

Ethan turned, and there she was.

Astrid Laurent.

Tonight, she was a vision in a black silk gown, her emerald eyes glinting like she knew every secret in the room.

Ethan smirked. "And miss the chance to meet your… friends?"

She smiled, slow and knowing. "Oh, Ethan. They're not my friends. They're my prey."

A waiter approached, offering a tray of champagne. Astrid plucked a glass and handed it to him. "Drink up. You're going to need it."

Ethan took the glass but didn't drink. "Who's the biggest threat here?"

Astrid's gaze flicked across the room. "That depends. Do you want the most powerful man in the room… or the most dangerous?"

Ethan's pulse quickened. He wasn't here to make friends.

He was here to take over.

—

The crowd parted subtly as a man approached. Tall. Cold. Dangerous.

Ethan knew who he was before he even spoke.

Lucien Vale.

The Viper of the underworld. Feared. Respected. Untouchable.

Lucien's dark eyes flicked over Ethan, assessing him like a hunter sizing up new prey. Then, he smirked. "You're braver than I thought, Cross."

Ethan tilted his head. "And you're exactly as expected."

Lucien chuckled. "Astrid rarely vouches for anyone. That makes me curious." He took a sip of his drink. "But curiosity can be dangerous."

Ethan met his gaze. "Only for the weak."

Lucien studied him for a moment. Then, he smiled—a shark's smile.

"I like you, Cross." He leaned in slightly. "Let's see if you survive long enough to matter."

And just like that, he disappeared into the crowd.

Astrid exhaled. "Well, that went better than expected."

Ethan turned to her. "I'm not here to impress him. I'm here to take what's mine."

Astrid smiled. "Then you better be ready to bleed."

—

The night was far from over.

And the real game had only just begun.