Serena King has spent years burying her sins beneath designer heels and ruthless ambition. But no lie lasts forever. When a ghost from her past returns, armed with secrets that could destroy her, she’s forced into a game she can’t control.The first move? A marriage forced upon herTo him—her brother’s ex-best friend. Her first mistake. The man who was her first… and then broke her heart.Miles Whitmore.He’s not the reckless charmer she remembers. He’s colder. Crueler. Hungrier.
Miles wants to salvage his scandal-ridden family’s legacy. He needs power. He needs redemption. But he’s got secrets that could destroy everything too.
Their marriage is a business deal, a show for the public. But behind closed doors?
It’s a war.
A war of lies. A war of seduction. A war of who will break first.
But the deeper they fall into their twisted game, the more hatred turns to heat. The more vengeance turns to obsession.
Because in a world where power is everything and love is the most dangerous game of all…
The biggest threat isn’t their enemies.
It’s each other.
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EXCERPT:
I spotted Mama and Daddy at the far end of the room, whispering vehemently among themselves. It was only when I got close that I heard Mama hiss, “He’s on something, Vincent!”
I almost gasped as Omar Whitmore stumbled through the crowd, his champagne glass tilting dangerously in his loose grip.
That’s not drunk. I know drunk. Drunk is falling into a gardenia bush after too many martinis or flirting with someone’s husband.
What started off as a simple party was now becoming a Jerry Springer episode.
The day after the most beautiful night of my life. Of course everything went wrong.
“Relax, Vonnie. He’s fine,” Daddy said, but I could see he didn’t believe himself.
“This is not the first time. Look! He’s sweating like this is the Mississippi Delta! He’s falling over, and his eyes look blacked out like an alien,” Mama said. “He ain’t been right since his father died.”
“You weren’t any better,” Daddy reminded her. Mama glared at him.
I expected tonight to be low-key. Simple but luxurious. A big King party for the whole town before Laurene’s engagement party next week, complete with rosé, twinkling lights, and that laidback summer feel that Lush brings.
“You saw him at the mayor’s gala when the press was interviewing him. He looked unshaven and dirty like some drifter.”
“That’s just grief,” Daddy said, standing up for his best friend.
Mama’s glare didn’t ease up. “I never let myself go like this when my daddy died. Omar gave a sloppy, rambling speech at the town hall. He crashed my Women of Lush networking brunch, and you know much time I put into that, Vincent, don’t act dumb.”
“It could be depression. Anxiety?”
“And? What does that have to do with him messing up my party?” Mama put her hands on her hips. “The Ashbournes are here. Lord knows we don’t need to give them any more ammunition than they already have. All the families that matter in Lush are here. Mayor Johnson, the Lush Chronicles, investors, donors—”
I knew better than to interrupt when Mama was pissed. My eyes flicked back to Omar.
“He’s our friend,” Daddy said, wincing as he watched Omar fall into a guest who yelped.
Despite what Miles thought, Mama had been dropping hints about giving me King Developments. She wanted to add another venture to King Enterprises, but Erik was too busy with King Aviation. Laurene was obsessed with her art.
This was it. But one wrong move from me tonight, and she’d place it right back into Erik’s lap without blinking.
So, I stayed still.
Author Bio:
Tinia (TUH-NIA) Montford is a Pisces who’s a sap for romance, especially when there’s (tons of) kissing. Loves eighties sitcoms and will consume anything with chocolate. She graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in English and Graphic Design. She is currently pursuing her MFA in Fiction.
You can find Tinia at www.tiniamontford.com or on social media: @tiniawritesbooks
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