Unwanted Blood (Harper) novel Chapter 103

Chapter 103

Then he spoke. “Mr. Westbrook asked me to deliver this.” His voice was calm, professional. “He said this necklace belongs to you.”

I stared at him. Adrian?

Behind me, Grayson and Logan turned toward Ryder at exactly the same time.

Grayson’s voice was low, tight. “Adrian? What is he doing?”

“Is this a setup?” Logan’s voice came a beat.

Ryder didn’t move. He sat in his seat, his spine straight, his hands resting on his knees. His eyes were fixed on the sapphire necklace-the blue light reflecting faintly in his pupils.

He was silent for two seconds. Then he spoke. “Yeah. It’s a setup.” He paused. “He wants our

sister.”

Grayson and Logan both turned to look at each other. Then, in unison. “What?!”

Victoria’s POV

I sat frozen, the paddle still raised in my hand. My arm refused to move.

The hammer fell. Just like that, it was over. The sapphire was gone. I’d meant to force her hand, to make her give it up. Instead, I’d been the one left empty-handed.

Not taken by me. Not taken by Ryder’s side. Taken by Westbrook.

The man in the grey suit was already walking back through the crowd. I watched him go, my jaw tight, trying to figure out whether I should be furious or impressed by whoever had just flexed their muscle like that in the middle of a room full of the city’s most connected people.

Then the man didn’t go back to his own table.

He changed direction Cut across the aisle. Walked straight toward Ryder’s section.

I sat up

He stopped in front of their table Bowed. And held out the velvet tray.

10 031

Chapter 103

The sapphire sat in front of the woman sitting beside Ryder. Her eyes found it almost immediately.

My hand tightened around the paddle until the plastic edge dug into my knuckles.

Her

288 Vouchers

Who was she? Where had she come from? One day she wasn’t there, and the next she was sitting at Ryder’s table like she belonged there, wearing a dress Grayson had clearly had made for her, the four Wilson men orbiting around her like satellites. And now Westbrook was sending them gifts.

“Why?” The word came out from between my teeth. “Where the hell did she come from?”

The girl beside me leaned in, following my line of sight. “Westbrook knows her too? She really has that many connections…”

Another voice sounded. “Wait, aren’t Westbrook and Wilson enemies? How is she playing both sides?”

I bit my lip. I didn’t answer. My eyes were fixed on her.

Ryder. Grayson, and Logan had all leaned toward her now-clustered around her seat, heads close, like they were checking on her or confirming something.

Something hot and shapeless churned in my chest. If she hadn’t been there tonight, Ryder wouldn’t have looked at me like I was nothing more than a stranger. He wouldn’t have pulled away the moment I touched him-not in front of an entire room full of people.

Then the girl beside me shifted in her seat. Her tone changed lighter. “Wait. Isn’t this actually a good thing?”

I turned my head. She was watching the Wilson table with a kind of slow dawning, like a puzzle piece had just clicked into place. “Everyone knows Westbrook and Wilson are enemies. Look at Ryder’s brothers-their faces just went dark.

I followed her gaze. She was right. They looked both shocked and furious.

I leaned back in my chair Slowly. The edge of my mouth moved.

“You’re right ” I set the paddle down on the table. “A woman who can play between two families that hate each other…” I smoothed the hem of my dress and stood up. “I should go remind Ryder Before he gets played ”

10.03

Chapter 103

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