The Devil's Contract

chapter- 5

​The black armored Maybach glided through the bustling streets of Manhattan, surrounded by a convoy of four dark SUVs. Outside the tinted glass, the city moved in a frenzy of yellow cabs, pedestrians, and towering skyscrapers.

​Inside the vehicle, the air was thick with tension.

​Sienna sat on the leather seat, staring down at the massive diamond ring on her hand. Beside her, Lucian was reviewing financial documents on his encrypted tablet, completely unfazed by the impending media storm.

​"When we arrive at Vance Global," Lucian spoke without breaking his gaze from the screen, "there will be over fifty news crews, paparazzi, and corporate shareholders waiting in the main atrium. Gabriel and eight armed security officers will form a perimeter around us."

​"And what am I expected to do?" Sienna asked, her voice tight.

​"You hold my right arm," Lucian instructed, turning his head to look at her. "You keep your chin up. You smile when I look at you. If a reporter shoves a microphone in your face, you say nothing. My PR team has released a scripted statement: we met six months ago at a charity gala in the Hamptons. We kept our relationship private until our engagement was finalized."

​"A complete lie," Sienna noted dryly.

​"A necessary fiction," Lucian replied. "The corporate board of Vance Global is attempting to vote on a five-billion-dollar merger next week. My uncle, Marcus Vance, is leading a faction on the board to vote against me. He claims I am too volatile, too unattached, too much of a liability to remain CEO."

​Sienna turned toward him, surprised. "Your uncle?"

​"Marcus believes the company—and the family syndicate—should belong to his son, Julian," Lucian said, his jaw tightening slightly. "Julian is the one who hired the hitmen at the docks last night. He wanted me dead before the board meeting."

​Sienna felt a cold shiver run down her spine. "You're walking into a room full of people who want you dead or ruined, and you're using me as a shield?"

​Lucian reached across the seat. His large hand closed over hers, his grip tight and possessive.

​"I don't use shields, Sienna," he said dark and low. "I use weapons. And today, you are going to help me crush them."

​The Maybach pulled up to the curb in front of Vance Global—a massive, eighty-story glass-and-steel skyscraper towering over Wall Street.

​The moment the car stopped, a wall of flashing camera lights exploded against the dark windows. Dozens of reporters, photographers, and security personnel swarmed the sidewalk outside.

​Gabriel opened the car door. The deafening noise of shouting journalists and rapid camera shutters rushed into the vehicle.

​"Mr. Vance! Is it true you were targeted in Brooklyn last night?"

"Lucian! Who is the woman?"

"Miss Miller! Are you marrying into the Vance Syndicate?"

​Lucian stepped out of the car first, adjusting his suit jacket. He extended his right hand back into the car for Sienna.

​Sienna took a deep breath, stepped out of the vehicle, and took his arm. The cool Manhattan wind caught her auburn hair, blowing it across her shoulders.

​The crowd went wild. Cameras flashed like lightning strikes.

​Lucian wrapped his right arm around her waist, pulling her flush against his side. The contact was so firm, so commanding, that it sent a shockwave straight to her core. He walked her through the sea of reporters with absolute dominance, his presence clearing a path through the chaotic crowd like a blade through silk.

​They entered the towering glass atrium of Vance Global. Waiting near the private executive elevators stood a group of older men in expensive suits.

​At the center of the group stood two men who immediately caught Sienna’s attention.

​The older one was Marcus Vance—a silver-haired man with cold, calculating eyes and a sneer tucked into the corner of his mouth. Standing right beside him was a younger man in his late twenties, with slicked dark hair, sharp features, and a cruel, predatory smile.

​Julian Vance. The man who had sent hitmen to kill Lucian hours ago.

​"Lucian," Marcus Vance said, stepping forward with fake warmth, his eyes flicking over Sienna with obvious disdain. "We heard rumors of trouble near the docks last night. We were worried you wouldn't make the press conference."

​"It takes more than incompetent hitmen to stop me, Uncle," Lucian replied, his voice calm, smooth, and laced with absolute malice.

​Julian’s eyes locked onto Sienna. His gaze dragged over her emerald dress, lingering on her waist where Lucian’s hand rested, before rising to her face. A slow, dangerous smirk spread across Julian’s lips.

​"And who is this exquisite creature?" Julian asked, stepping closer, extending a hand toward Sienna. "You didn't mention you were keeping such a rare treasure hidden from the family, cousin."

​Before Julian’s hand could reach Sienna, Lucian stepped in front of her.

​He caught Julian’s wrist mid-air. The speed of Lucian’s movement was terrifying. His grip on his cousin's wrist was so violent that Sienna saw the color drain from Julian’s fingers as the bones compressed under Lucian's strength.

​The air in the atrium went completely dead silent. Guards on both sides subtly shifted their hands toward their holsters.

​"Touch her," Lucian whispered, leaning in close to Julian’s ear, his voice a sub-zero promise of annihilation, "and I will cut your hand off and mail it to your father."