Chapter 1 1

Stella gripped Evita's chin, her fingers digging into the soft flesh of her jaw. The leather of the limousine seat was cold against Evita's back, but Stella's hand was hot, moist with a nervous sweat that smelled of expensive lotion and desperation.

"Look at me," Stella hissed. "Don't you dare drop those eyes tonight. You are pathetic. You are fragile. You are the poor, broken little thing that needs saving."

Evita didn't blink. She let her eyelids droop just enough to cast a shadow over her pupils, masking the calculation running through her mind. She could see the pulse jumping in Stella's neck. The carotid artery was right there, exposed above the collar of her silk dress. A quick strike, three seconds of pressure, and the nagging voice would be silenced.

Evita swallowed the thought. It tasted like bile, but she kept it down. She wasn't Cipher tonight. She was Evita Peck, the mute, illegitimate liability of the Peck family.

"Nod if you understand," Stella commanded, giving her jaw a rough shake.

Evita nodded slowly. Her neck felt stiff.

"Good. Mr. O'Connell is expecting a return on his investment. He's putting a lot of money into your father's campaign. You just sit there, smile, and let him be... friendly. If you make a sound, if you embarrass us, you know what happens to the funding for that orphanage in Zurich."

The car came to a halt. The door swung open, and the humid New York air rushed in, carrying the scent of rain and exhaust. Flashlights erupted like a sudden lightning storm.

Evita flinched. It was a practiced reaction, a physical recoil that made her look like a frightened deer. She felt Stella's nails pinch the soft skin of her upper arm, a sharp, stinging reminder to stay in character.

They moved toward the entrance of the Vanderbilt estate. The noise was a physical wall-shouting photographers, the slam of car doors, the low hum of a hundred conversations. Evita kept her head down, her shoulders hunched forward to minimize her height.

Inside, the ballroom was a suffocating mix of perfumes, champagne, and the stale odor of old money. Evita scanned the room in two seconds. Three exits. Six security guards stationed at the perimeter. The chandeliers were low, casting long shadows.

A waiter approached with a tray of crystal flutes. Evita raised a hand to refuse, her movements jerky and uncoordinated. She saw the small bulge beneath the waiter's vest. A wire. Someone was listening.

"Come on," Stella muttered, gripping Evita's elbow and steering her toward a VIP booth in the far corner. The velvet ropes were pulled back for them.

Mr. O'Connell was waiting. He didn't stand up. He was a heavy man, his suit straining against his midsection. His eyes were small and wet, sliding over Evita like oil.

"There she is," O'Connell said. His voice was a low rumble. He reached out, not for a handshake, but to grab Evita's wrist. His thumb pressed directly onto her pulse point, rubbing the thin skin there.

Evita's stomach turned over. A physiological wave of nausea hit her, but she locked her knees to keep from pulling away. She stood rigid, staring at the knot of his tie.

"She's a quiet one, isn't she?" O'Connell asked, looking at Stella while his thumb continued to stroke Evita's wrist.

"Silent as a grave," Stella laughed, the sound brittle. "She knows her place. She knows how important you are to the Senator."

O'Connell picked up a glass from the table. The liquid inside was a cloudy pink, garnished with a wilting mint leaf. He held it out to Evita.

"Drink," he said.

Evita hesitated. She could smell it from here-the sharp, chemical sweetness cutting through the alcohol. Flunitrazepam. Roofies. The dosage smelled high.

"I said drink." O'Connell's grip on her wrist tightened, grinding her bones together.

Stella stepped behind Evita, her hand landing heavily on Evita's shoulder. She leaned in, her breath hot against Evita's ear. "Drink it, Evita. Or I call Cherry. I'm sure your sister would love to take your place. She's not as... shy."

Evita's eyes widened. This was the trigger. They knew Cherry was the only thing Evita pretended to care about to maintain her cover. She let her hand tremble as she reached for the glass.

She took it. The glass was slippery with condensation. She tried to fake a stumble, to spill the liquid onto the carpet, but O'Connell was faster than he looked. He lunged forward, his large hand clamping over hers, forcing the glass to her lips.

"None of that," he growled. "Down the hatch."

The glass clicked against her teeth. The liquid rushed into her mouth, cloying and bitter. She tried to hold it in her cheeks, but he tilted her head back, his fingers digging into her jaw. She was forced to swallow.

One gulp. Two.

O'Connell released her. He sat back, a satisfied smirk spreading across his face. He turned to Stella. "So, about the arrangements for later..."

Evita stood there, gasping for air. The reaction was almost instant. Her fingertips began to tingle, a numbness spreading up her arms. Her vision swam, the lights of the ballroom stretching into long, blurry streaks.

She had to move. Now.

She clapped a hand over her mouth, making a retching sound.

O'Connell recoiled, waving his hand dismissively. "Get her out of here. Clean her up. I don't want vomit on my suit."

"You have five minutes," Stella hissed, pointing toward the grand staircase. "Second floor. Guest washroom. Don't make a scene."

Evita turned and ran. Her legs felt heavy, like she was wading through water. She collided with a waiter, sending a tray of empty glasses crashing to the floor. The sound of shattering glass gave her the distraction she needed.

She didn't go to the second floor. She grabbed the banister and hauled herself up, past the guest levels, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The drug was eating her mind, stripping away her coordination.

Third floor. Fourth.

She reached the top landing. The Presidential Suite level. It was quiet here, the carpet thick enough to swallow sound. The hallway stretched out, the wall sconces looking like glowing eyes in her distorted vision.

She leaned against the wall, digging her fingernails into her palms, trying to use pain to anchor herself. It wasn't working. The heat in her body was rising, a fever that had nothing to do with illness.

Heavy footsteps echoed from the stairwell behind her. O'Connell's security.

Panic, primal and raw, surged through her. She pushed off the wall and stumbled down the corridor. A cleaning cart was parked near the end of the hall, obscuring a door that was slightly ajar.

She didn't check the number. She didn't check for lights. She squeezed past the cart and slipped into the room, pushing the heavy door shut behind her.

She fumbled with the lock, her fingers feeling like sausages. Click.

Safe.

Evita slid down the door, her cheek pressing against the cool wood. She closed her eyes, fighting the spinning room.

She didn't see the shadow in the corner of the room move. She didn't see the pair of eyes, cold and predatory, watching her from the darkness.