Chapter 5 - The Reckoning at Table OneEthan turned around, his face draining of what little color remained as he spotted the three figures bearing down on him.
For a fraction of a second, his corporate arrogance flared back to life. He puffed out his chest, stepping in front of Vanessa as if to shield her from the impending storm.
"Hey! You can't just barge in here—do you know who I am? This is a private, invitation-only corporate event, and—"
Julian didn't let him finish.
The eldest Hale brother closed the distance in three long strides, his heavy leather boot striking the parquet floor with a hollow thud. Without a single word of warning, without raising his voice, Julian reached out, grabbed Ethan by the custom-tailored lapels of his Brioni tuxedo, and hoisted him a full six inches off the floor.
The room gasped in collective horror.
"Put me down!" Ethan choked out, his hands clawing frantically at Julian’s thick wrists as his expensive shoes dangled uselessly in the air. "Are you out of your mind? I’ll have you arrested! I’ll have you locked up for the rest of your—"
"You hit our sister," Julian said. His voice was not loud. It was terrifyingly calm, carrying the quiet, crushing weight of a falling mountain.
"He was stressed—it was a misunderstanding—" Vanessa shrieked, stepping forward, her face twisted in panic. "Security! Call the police!"
Dominic Hale stepped into her path, his lean frame blocking her completely. He didn't touch her, but the look in his eyes—cold, dead, and utterly merciless—made Vanessa freeze mid-step, her mouth hanging open in silent terror.
"I’d keep my mouth shut if I were you, lady," Dominic said softly. "Unless you want me to start reading your text messages out loud to the room. I’m sure Arthur Vance at the front table would love to hear how you've been billing personal weekend getaways to the Apex Project expense account."
Vanessa paled instantly, snapping her mouth shut and backing away into the shadows.
Meanwhile, Marcus Hale walked slowly over to Claire. He didn't look at Ethan dangling from Julian’s grip. He looked only at his sister, his jaw tight, his eyes burning with a fierce, protective sorrow. He reached out, his warm, calloused fingers gently touching the red, swollen mark on Claire’s cheekbone.
"Did he do this before?" Marcus asked, his voice shaking slightly.
Claire looked into her brother’s eyes, and for the first time all evening, the dam broke. A single tear slipped down her cheek, cutting a clean path through her makeup.
May you like
"No," Claire whispered. "Tonight was the first time."
"Good," Marcus murmured, a cold, grim smile touching his lips. "Because if he’d done it twice, he wouldn't be breathing right now."
