is face as he stepped forward, clearly taki

apped. "Without an invitation, you won't even get through the en

oved. "Step aside,

pletely lost it." He raised his voice sharply.

immediately. They lined up in fro

ough. We're already running late for the party."

im out in a hurry, leaving Gemma st

closed be

en surrounding her. Her expression s

g. "Miss Elliott, please return upstai

slightly. "You thi

nished leaving her mouth

rom where she stood, lea

before a sharp strike landed against his neck. His visio

remaining five men as

m every direction, cuttin

n a single motion. Her elbow drove backward into one man's ribs while her l

hoed, followed b

ree men froze fo

man standing in front of them was nothing like

ce. Gemma shifted her head slightly and let the blow pass by a hair'

g sound f

pped out of p

already turned with the motion. Her leg swung o

eir footing and cras

y, gripping their legs as

had passed from the

guards lay o

s if removing dust that had never existed.

epped past the men on the floo

wind stirred the

toward Prime Tower, Olnstea

rance of the city's largest seven-star hotel. Hundreds o

nvitation would be

ir car, Brendan was already waiting in the parki

bit the polished heir p

end

ugh his, her manner gentle and reserved. Brendan t

lie looked far more like a married pai

inside," B

otts toward the

ions and confirmed guest identities to ensure t

ing out their invitations when a sharp

man wearing a red evening gown. Her presence carried a co

a. She handed her keys to t

an saw her, his e

ssed. Since when had

the Gemma he remembered. The difference stru

moment, he s

tation. "Why are you here? Didn't your family already tell you to stay home instea

y before, he had almost believed

ours had passed before she retu

y had been nothing mor

at showing up dressed like that and begging me will change

be Gemma only came because she cares about you so much. But tonight's event matter

lves her family. Every single one of them st

n felt almos

ink I needed to en

m, yet the atmosphere

sneered

ck them so abruptly that, f

mma had already lifted the hem of her dres

" Robert snapped as he n

through clenched teeth. "Without an invitation, she won't get pas

aised his hand and blocked her path

ered without hesitatio

vitat

might need on

me from be

ad arrived just in time

g their heads in Gemma's direction. Th

ome back party. Does she seriously think

s Sallie Elliott's sister, ri

ave been raped by street thugs yesterda

spread throug

tantly. He spoke her name like he wa

ward and reach

Instead, she turned and s

h me. You d

ly through the entrance. For a mom

ned toward the

t," she said calmly. "If I'm not allowed i

her back straight a

me out and greet