Page 92 of Protect Thy Enemy

I force a smile, but my focus is on Holden. He doesn’t react to Fallon’s comment, his expression unreadable as he drives.

The senator doesn’t push for conversation, and I’m grateful. The rest of the drive is spent in silence, the tension in the car thick enough to cut with a knife.

When we arrive at the gala, the building looms ahead, its grand facade lit up against the night sky. The weight of the evening settles over me, and I glance down at the ring on my finger, the charade feeling more real than it should.

Holden steps out first, offering me his hand. The look in his eyes as he helps me out of the car is one I’ll feel in my bones for days to come.

“You’re beautiful,” he murmurs, his voice low enough that only I can hear.

As cliché as it sounds, it gives me butterflies. I don’t know exactly how to respond or how I feel about that.

Instead, I force a smile, slipping my hand into the crook of his arm as we approach the entrance. The senator is in front of us, but we follow closely, his presence a reminder of why we’re here.

But as we step into the grand ballroom, the weight of Holden’s gaze and the memory of his voice stay with me, an invisible tether pulling me deeper into something I’m not sure I can escape.

Chapter Thirty-One

Holden

Ican’t take my eyes off her. I know I should. Hell, I’ve spent the entire evening trying to convince myself to look anywhere else, but it’s a losing battle. Arden commands the room without even trying, and it terrifies the hell out of me.

She doesn’t just look beautiful; she looks untouchable. The sleek black dress hugs her body in all the right ways, and the poised and confident way she carries herself makes it impossible not to notice her.

Not just for me but for every damn man in this room.

I remind myself this is just a cover. A role we’re playing to watch Fallon in line and keep the mission on track. That ring on her finger is nothing more than a prop, a symbol of the lie we’ve both agreed to live for now.

But it doesn’t feel like a lie.

And that scares the fuck out of me.

I clench my jaw, forcing my focus to shift around the room. The senator is making his rounds, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries with the city’s elite. Arden stays close to my side, her hand resting lightly on my arm, her presence grounding and distracting me in equal measure.

From across the room, I catch Tate watching me. His expression is relaxed, but a knowing look in his eyes makes my skin prickle. I ignore him, shifting my attention to Park. He’s leaning against a pillar, his gaze fixed on me, his expression darker than usual.

The glare is cutting, but he doesn’t say anything, and neither do I. Especially not when I suspect it has something to do with the woman on my arm. I turn my focus back to Fallon, watching everyone he interacts with, cataloging faces and names when possible.

It’s not just Fallon or the mission throwing me off tonight. It’s her.

Arden’s hand rests lightly on my arm, her presence grounding and maddening all at once. I’ve been in situations ten times more dangerous than this—rooms full of killers and back-alley deals that could go south in a second—and my pulse never wavered.

But tonight? Tonight, I feel like I’m one wrong move away from unraveling.

She doesn’t even know what she’s doing to me. Every glance, every subtle shift of her body, every damn breath she takes feels like it’s designed to test my limits. And the worst part? I can’t even blame her for it.

Because the truth is, this isn’t about her. It’s about me. The part of me that’s breaking every rule I’ve lived by, every boundary I’ve set. The part that’s starting to wonder if this thing between us isn’t just an act.

If I’m not careful, I’ll lose myself in her. And that terrifies me more than anything else in this room.

The senator finally makes his way back to us, a drink in hand and a satisfied smile on his face. “Mr. Smith,” he says, clapping me on the shoulder. “You can’t keep a woman like this hidden all night. Go dance with your wife. I’ll be fine here.”

“I’m fine,” I say, my tone curt.

Fallon’s smile widens, and he shakes his head. “Nonsense. She’s too beautiful not to show off. The room’s waiting for it.”

Arden’s hand tightens ever so slightly on my arm, and I know she’s won't make this easier for me. The thought of holding her and being that close to her in front of all these people sends a wave of unease through me.

“Senator, with all due respect—”

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