Chapter 74: She Played Everyone

“Dean, enough!” Dad barked, his voice slicing through the thick tension in the ballroom. His eyebrows arched so high I thought a vein might burst in his forehead. For a second, I worried he’d get a stroke right here in front of everyone. But even his thunder didn’t stop the storm that was brewing. Something had Chloe trembling in her heels, something had my father threatening Dean’s life in front of the entire guest list. My pulse raced as I wondered—what secret was lurking under all this shouting? “Well, if you have something to say, better say it and get it over with, Dean,” Alyssa’s voice rang out as she appeared from the edge of the crowd, stepping into the line of fire like some referee who didn’t know the fight she was about to step into. Dean spun, his movements jerky, like an intoxicated man trying to steady himself. His eyes found mine. Roman’s arm tightened protectively around me, anchoring me to his chest. I could feel the tension rolling off him, sharp and dangerous. “Oh, b