Silas shoved Gwen away hard, his voice turning ice-cold. "The woman I love is a police officer. Her entire family gave their lives in the line of duty."
The moment those words fell, the entire venue exploded into chaos.
Gwen froze on the spot, certain she had misheard.
"The Paynes and the Lowells are both underworld families. How could he be involved with a cop?!"
"Is Silas throwing his life away for some woman? What foolish devotion!"
"Will the Lowell family let this slide? Gwen is their eldest daughter, and he just humiliated her in public..."
Wave after wave of whispers pricked at Gwen's heart like countless sharp needles, leaving her trembling uncontrollably.
Silas's cold voice carried on. "And just three days ago, her only remaining brother was murdered in cold blood."
His gaz
