But if I do, she’ll catch on. She won’t let me leave.

“Good evening, Miss Finch.” The driver waits at the bottom of our stairs when I answer the door. He nods his head before turning toward the black town car idling in the street.

I squeeze my gut, take a deep breath, and follow him down our walkway. The chilled air glides around my neck, tossing my ponytail sideways. The town car is too small for the mayor’s entire entourage. I pull the coat tight across my shoulders and pray it’s empty.

When the driver opens the door, Cullen, dressed in a tuxedo, stares out the opposite window. He doesn’t look my way as I step in.

We continue ignoring each other as the driver climbs in and pulls away toward the Shedd Aquarium. For several minutes, no one speaks, which is fine by me. The less expected of me, the better. Then, out of nowhere, Cullen claps his hands and rubs them together. “You’re really going to hate this,” he says, flashing a dimpled smile.

If I didn’t detest him so much, I’d find him attractive in a way totally different from Ryan. Cullen’s light brown hair is brushed to one side. He’s clean-cut and polished, like he was made to wear tuxedos. “This is right at the top of things you despise most.”

“How would you know?”

Cullen snorts. “Oh, come on.” He drums his hands on his legs like he has pent-up energy he doesn’t know what to do with. “You’re not that complicated.”

I tug at my coat, to cover my legs, and turn to look out the window. Cullen Henking is the son of the man who killed my father. He’s part of whatever the mayor has planned for me tonight, making him just as dangerous and untrustworthy.

“The easiest way to get through it is to pretend you’re someone else—like you’re playing a role.” His voice trails. “After that, it’s easy to figure out how you’re supposed to act, what you should say.”

Sounds like a coping mechanism for aiding and abetting murder. “Is that what you do?”

Cullen’s brown eyes glint. “We’re talking about you—not me.” He winks. “You look very pretty tonight.”

I hold his stare, letting him know his flattery will not intimidate me. “Is that what you feel you should say?”

Cullen chuckles. “Oh, come on, Lia. Insecurity doesn’t suit you. You know you’re pretty.”

My face flushes, and the heat travels down my neck. I change the subject. “What should I expect tonight?”

I watch for Cullen to flinch or wince or hesitate. But the only movement comes from his legs bouncing up and down in a skittish way I don’t expect of him. I can’t tell if it’s related to what will come of me.