Conning For Keeps (An Agents of TRAIT Novella) (Entangled Flaunt) Read Online Free PDF

her face. Crimson lips gave the illusion of blood.
    Yes, she’d probably be a fantastic addition to a crime family.
    Trevor really didn’t like the idea of Evangeline alone with Marissa—especially not while she was “Mari.” At least her programming had a fail-safe that would wake her up the instant violence was involved. Which was a good thing since Evangeline seemed like she’d happily disembowel someone for looking at her wrong, and Trevor couldn’t handle the idea of losing anyone else to this damn family.
    “Thank you all for agreeing to start on this incredible adventure with us. When I first mentioned to Frankie that I’d always dreamed of a group wedding, he thought I was crazy, but he kissed me and said he loved me anyway. You see, my parents died when I was a teenager, and the idea of going into my marriage ‘alone’ terrified me. Then I saw a special about people pledging to share their wedding day, and I couldn’t imagine a better celebration. With most of my close friends either already married or nowhere near ready, I was afraid the dream would never come true.”
    She smiled down at Frankie, more baring her teeth as if she wanted to bite him than anything else. “Then Frankie suggested inviting people who couldn’t afford the big destination wedding on their own to join us. Without you, there’d be no party. Without you, I would have had to settle for less than my perfect happily-ever-after. From the bottom of my heart…thank you.”
    More applause erupted, but Trevor couldn’t help but be offended by the slight in her speech. Maybe the Canalis money had helped to fund other dream weddings, but she didn’t need to remind them of it. And no matter that his would-be marriage was a farce, she didn’t need to remind him of the years scraping by as a kid and escaping the lure of easy money promised by a life of crime.
    He’d gotten out of the gang, taken his share of the money, and never looked back. He didn’t need another reminder of the Canalis family’s part in all that. He clenched his napkin and took several steadying breaths. He wasn’t a street-kid anymore. After Delray’s murder, Trevor had clawed his way out of that life, gotten his family out. He’d left gang life far behind him—until now.
    As soon as Evangeline took her seat, waiters appeared with covered trays, and Trevor buried his irritation in food.
    “Mari” picked up the small talk as if she was born to it, but every time she glanced to where Evangeline sat, she’d lower her gaze as if embarrassed.
    “What is it?”
    She pushed her vegetables around with her fork. “She’s gorgeous . I feel frumpy and unworthy.”
    “Who? The bitch-goddess?” He couldn’t help but smirk at one of Marissa’s favorite terms falling from his mouth.
    She sucked in a breath, her eyes panicked. “Shhh…she’ll hear you.”
    One more reminder that the woman next to him wasn’t Marissa. He sighed. “Okay, how’s this? You are gorgeous, and while glaring sunlight might favor the blonde, candlelight definitely makes your brunette glow. In this room, in this light, she can’t compare to you. And to me, she never could in any light.”
    “I love you.” Marissa ducked her head, not quite hiding her blush, and Trevor’s heart lurched at her declaration.
    Not Marissa. Don’t forget that .
    “I suppose one of us should thank her for all this.” Mari laid her napkin on the table.
    Considering he’d pondered beating Canalis junior earlier, he tipped his glass toward her. “And I suppose I should leave that to the one who isn’t likely to call her something insulting.”
    She stole his wine and took a long swallow. “Wish me luck?”
    This time, he didn’t need the prodding to kiss her cheek and whisper, “Good luck.”
    Her chair scraped on the stone as Marissa stood and smoothed down the back of her dress. One deep breath and she was gone, walking onto the carefully set stage.
    Show time.
    …
    The stress across Trevor’s