We stop to get a bottle of tequila, Patron, on the way. When in doubt, go classic.

Yes, I can afford the finest tequila on the planet. I can buy whatever I want. But the truth is, tonight I feel like slumming it.

I’m posing as a partygoer after all.

It’s shaping up to be a typical night. We always crash the Capulet parties. Merc, Benny, and I are all dressed in our finest tuxedos, as befitting an affair thrown for the Governor.

We pull up to the Capulet high-rise. There’s massive security on this place. It’s always been my ultimate goal in life to penetrate this fortress, and yet, for all the times we’ve done it, I’ve never had a glimpse of her, the Capulet princess.

Her dad’s got her nice and covered, but tonight will be different. She’ll be on display for the world to see, and I want to know what all the fuss is about.

I’ve heard she’s beautiful, but she can’t be that gorgeous, right?

For as long as I can remember, it’s been about the Capulets against us, the Montagues.

The war for turf is ongoing in this town.

Tonight is a major loss for us. Having the damn Capulet heiress marrying the Governor is not a good sign. Doubtless, her father is doing this to her.

No one could fall in love with the Governor. He’s just not that kind of man.

But he does have a lot of power in this town, power that we need. With Isobel marrying the guy, she’ll have his ear, and her father will have the Governor wrapped around his little finger so fucking tight that I can’t even believe it.

If only we thought of this. I can think of several gorgeous Montagues we could’ve married off to the Governor.

The difference between us and them is that I would never do that. My parents would never do that. We don’t trade our family like cattle; they’re not fucking property to be given for favors.

Our limousine is in line behind what seems like a hundred other limousines.

Everyone wants to be seen at this party.

“Look at the damn people, waiting in line to serve the Capulets,” Merc says.

“Why don’t we throw parties like this?” Benny asks.

“We do,” I say through clenched teeth because I’m suddenly feeling pissed off. “But we don’t whore ourselves out to the nation. Only our inner circle, the best of the best is invited.”

I drink my tequila on ice and burn with rage at having to be here.

Suddenly, it seems like a bad idea, not worth my time.

These damn masks might be a good thing because I want to fade into the background and just take inventory of the place. I want to research the Governor and find his Achilles’ Heel.

I want to find out exactly what kind of man he is.

I want to see what kind of Capulet forces we’re dealing with now.

And so when the driver opens the door and we emerge, my heart beats a little faster.

It’s always like this, trying to get inside. We could always get caught, outnumbered, and murdered in the back alleyway. But it’s a risk I’m willing to take for the inside scoop.

Luckily for us, we know a couple of the bodyguards.

With a simple nod from me, they let us in.

Having spies everywhere is what I do. And it’s worth every fucking cent I spend on them.

The Capulets likely have spies on us as well. It’s just how the game works.

Tonight, having insider information is working to our advantage. We walk right in like we own the place. Merc and Benny immediately go about making their rounds.

They love this kind of thing. They drink and begin to have a wild time. Normally, this is my favorite thing to do, to crush an elegant Capulet affair.

But I’d be lying if I said tonight wasn’t all about business. I just need to get a handle on the situation before it gets out of control. I don’t know exactly what I mean to do yet, but I will make my move at some point.

I mingle with a couple of socialites.

“Hi, you. Aren’t you tall dark and handsome?” a woman in her early twenties says to me.

“Yeah, well, I try,” I say, blowing her off.

What are you supposed to say to a thing like that?

Women are coming at me from all angles. They always do. It’s the same tired scene.

Yes, I could take one of them home and have mediocre sex, but at this point, I’m more interested in the business side of the affair.

I scan the room, trying to avoid any unnecessary small talk. And then I see him. A guy who has to be the Governor walks up to the stage.

He’s older and slightly overweight and to me, he looks like the complete dirty politician.

I’m taking in his demeanor and trying to figure out what kind of enemy he’ll be for me.

And that’s when I see her. My heart stops in my chest.

The world stops moving.

Time stands still.

Isobel Capulet. It has to be her. And fuck if I didn’t underestimate the princess.

She’s more gorgeous than anything I’ve ever seen. Like a goddamn angel.

She’s cringing under the weight of the Governor’s arm that clutches tightly to her slim shoulders. He looks like he wants to own her, and she looks like she’s having none of it.

Good girl. The thing is, I can’t take my eyes away from her.

This never happens to me. I feel like I know her, like my heart knows her, even though this is the first time I’ve seen her.

Is it Fate?

Because I feel like...she’s the one I’ve been waiting for. And that makes me feel strangely possessive.

The Governor grabs the microphone and says, “Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to make the biggest announcement of the evening, the thing that’s on the tip of everyone’s tongue. This is my bride-to-be, Isobel Capulet. We’re so in love and extremely happy to announce our engagement.”

All eyes are on them. The room erupts into applause and cheers.

But my eyes are on her the entire time.

I see her trying to smile. I see that she doesn’t want to. I read her body language and know that she’s unhappy.

Of course she is. The guy she’s marrying is a creep. He’s probably the last thing in the world she’d be attracted to.

And suddenly, she becomes my new obsession, just like that. I can’t contain my racing heart—I think she might be the answer to all my prayers.

Merc and Benny come to my side.

“Well, there she is,” Merc says. “She’s fucking beautiful that’s for sure.”

“Yeah, she is,” I say almost absentmindedly.

They’re talking to me, but my mind’s going absolutely fucking crazy.

All I see is her. Suddenly, she’s the only thing that exists for me, and I don’t know why.

“Do you see the guy she has to marry? Some life, huh?” Benny says.

I want to agree with him. I do agree with him. But I ridiculously feel jealous and possessive over this beautiful angel I see on stage.

This isn’t me. I don’t become attached. I never feel this way.

Merc is saying, “The Governor is pretty much what we could expect. I’ve heard about him, but I never imagined he could be so vile in real-life. Poor girl.”

Yeah right, poor girl.

The problem is I wish she were mine.

A fire burns in my heart, and I don’t know why. But one thing is sure—it’s inescapable.

I’m going to have to face these feelings at some point. I can’t tear my eyes away from her. I see her move out from under his grasp as they leave the stage.

He doesn’t even notice. He’s so enraptured by the attention and the applause that he just goes into the crowd and starts to mingle.

Fucking asshole.