"If I have to burn with you, I'll make sure your screams echo louder."
---
NYRA VORA
They say revenge is best served cold.
But I prefer mine served in champagne glasses—
—bubbly, seductive, and poisonous.
The private lounge above the ballroom buzzed with intimacy. Gold lights. Dark couches. Rich laughter.
A circle of elites lounged around with crystal flutes in hand.
Ravian sat at the head, one leg crossed over the other. Kray to his left, Leo to the right. Their favorite investors, socialites, and one bored actress who kept eyeing Kai, sat in the shadows.
And then there was me.
Draped in darkness.
A red wine in hand, legs crossed, gaze lowered just enough to tempt.
> "Let's play something old school," said a woman named Tia.
"Truth or Dare?"
> "We're too old for that," Kray muttered.
> "We're never too old to expose our sins," I said sweetly, sipping my drink.
Ravian's eyes flicked to me.
> "You play dangerous," he said.
> "That's the point."
---
Round One – Leo
Tia pointed at Leo.
> "Truth or Dare?"
Leo winked.
> "Dare."
> "Kiss the most dangerous person in this room."
Without hesitation, Leo walked to me.
Kissed my hand.
Then leaned in and whispered against my neck:
> "If I die tonight, at least it'll be your scent on my grave."
I smiled.
Ravian clenched his jaw. Kray narrowed his eyes.
Perfect.
---
Round Two – Ravian
> "Truth or dare?" someone asked Ravian.
He looked at me. Then smirked.
> "Truth."
> "Have you ever betrayed someone who loved you?"
The room went still.
Even the music faded like it was listening.
Ravian's fingers tightened around his glass.
> "Everyone betrays someone eventually," he replied.
"But only the weak regret it."
Kray chuckled.
But I saw it—a twitch in Ravian's jaw. A ghost beneath the surface.
> "Did she scream?" I asked softly.
Silence.
> "The one you betrayed," I added. "Did she scream loud enough?"
He blinked.
Everyone stared.
> "I'm sorry, who invited you again?" Kray snapped.
I turned to him, eyes flashing.
> "Someone who knew you both needed reminding."
---
Round Three – Nyra
Tia grinned wickedly.
> "Nyra. Truth or dare?"
> "Truth," I said.
> "What's the worst thing a man's ever done to you?"
I set down my glass.
> "He killed me."
Everyone laughed like it was a joke.
Except Ravian. Except Kray.
They froze.
I stood. Walked to the center of the room.
> "He kissed me while I cried.
He made me walk on glass to reach my child.
He stabbed me.
Left me to die."
Now you could hear only breathing.
And the sound of Ravian's heart breaking again.
I smiled.
> "That's why I don't play to win."
"I play to remind."
---
LATER THAT NIGHT
Kai drove us back in silence.
> "Too soon?" I asked him.
> "No," he said.
"Just loud enough to haunt them."
> "Ravian's cracking," I whispered.
"I can see it in his eyes. The guilt is leaking."
> "And Kray?"
> "He's suspicious. But still drawn. That's his weakness—he falls in love with what he wants to break."
I looked at the city lights as we drove.
> "Soon," I said.
"They'll both kneel. One in love. One in fear."
---
🩸 End of Chapter 5
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