Page 166 of High Reward

Victor nods. “OK. What do we do about it?”

Tyson drags a hand through his hair. I get the vibe that there is something he’s not telling us about Price, but Victor isn’t pushing.

“I’m taking the job there mostly so I can keep an eye on him.”

Victor nods. “You will be missed here, and you can return any time you get sick of the humidity.”

Tyson chuckles. “I’m definitely not looking forward to that. But nothing is as bad as the dreary weather that was in London. They have a great club there and Sabrina loved it, but the city just wasn’t for me. We’ll see how I fit in New Orleans.”

His tone is easy but his eyes aren’t, and whatever happened between him and Griffin Price runs deeper than professional curiosity. I don’t ask. He’ll tell me when he’s ready, and cornering him at a party won’t speed that up.

Across the room, I catch sight of Zara laughing with Skylar over a phone held between them, and when I ask what’s so funny, Zara shows me a photo of a woman in a modest studio apartment, a cat curled on her lap.

“My sister,” Zara says, and her voice is lighter than it usually gets when she talks about Monica. “She’s in a program now. Stable housing, a case worker, the whole thing. It’s not perfect. We’re not exactly close yet. But she called me on my birthday this year, and that’s more than I’ve had from her in five years.”

I squeeze her hand. Getting even a small piece of someone back is worth more than people think.

Samuel Carter finds us not long after, Erin at his side with a photo of their son already open on her phone, and the two of them fold into the group like they’ve always belonged in it.

“How’s Hunter handling impending fatherhood?” Victor asks, passing Samuel a drink.

“Terribly.” Samuel laughs. “He’s already interviewing security teams for a person who doesn’t exist yet.”

“Sounds about right,” Victor mutters, and I catch the look he throws my way, amused and pointed at the same time.

I pretend not to notice.

Across the room, Grace has gone quiet, watching Sabrina lean into Tyson’s side while he says something low against her ear that makes her flush all the way to her collarbone.

“They’re going to be insufferable in New Orleans,” Grace says when she catches me watching too.

“They’re going to be happy,” I correct her. “There’s a difference.”

Grace’s smile softens. “Yeah. I guess there is.”

Chapter 45

Grace

TheHighCardisloud and glittering by the time Victor and I make our way through the crowd, champagne already working its way into my bloodstream and easing the last of the day’s nerves. Skylar and Matteo hold court near the bar, fielding a steady stream of well wishes, and Skylar catches my eye long enough to blow me a kiss over someone’s shoulder.

“Nervous about New York?” Victor asks, his hand settling at the small of my back, steady the way it always is in crowds like this.

“Terrified. I’ve never been in a wedding party before. What if I trip walking down the aisle?”

“Then I catch you, and everyone talks about it for years instead of the ceremony.” He presses a kiss to my temple. “Bookstore’s coming together beautifully, by the way. I stopped by the storefront this afternoon.”

“You did?” I hadn’t mentioned wanting him there, but my chest goes warm anyway.

“Couldn’t help myself.” He says my actual name instead of butterfly, which he only does when he wants me to take him seriously. “I’m proud of you, Grace.”

“Owen’s already sent me three emails about the New York security detail,” Victor adds, more to himself than to me. “Hotel sweeps, car service, a contact at the venue who owes Luke a favor. You won’t even notice most of it.”

“I noticed you noticing it, though.”

“Old habits.” He shrugs, unapologetic. “I’ll relax once we’re back.”

“You’ve never relaxed a day in your life.”