The Veiling

Copyright © 2023 V.B. Emanuele All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without the prior written permission of the copyright owner, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. To request permission, contact [email protected] or [email protected] vbemanuele.com & linktr.ee/vbemanuele The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author. The use of any real company and/or product names is for literary effect only. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. ISBN: 9798807067135 (Paperback) First Paperback Edition March 2023 First eBook Edition March 2023 Cover Photograph by Konstantin Kuznetcov Cover Design by Michael Von Edited by Hana Blue C. Euphoria Publishing 8901 Tehama Ridge Parkway Suite 127 #617 Fort Worth, TX 76177 She led with her mind, but she ruled the world with her grace and love. -The Veiling WARNING This book contains graphic scenes of all the good stuff: Sex & Violence Contents Acknowledgments The Jester Déjà Vu Revealed Savior Ghost of My Past Returned Marco Noah & Laura Distraction Attack Prisoner Deceit Assets Normal Vacation Mr. & Mrs. Greco Epilogue Also by V.B. Emanuele About the Author Acknowledgments Thank you so much to the following: Hana, my friend, my amazing editor. You continue to work your magic and I appreciate you more than you know. I’m so happy we met and you make work days fun while putting everything into all you do. You’re a rockstar! Michael Von and Nina Martin. You are both amazing mind readers and wonderful to work with. Thank you both for putting in a ton of time and effort into every project. Euphoria Publishing Staff. Though I am a co-founder of the company, I cannot thank the team enough for putting in the passion it takes to run a business with a busy author. Thank you all so much. I could not do this without you. My ARC Team. There are way too many of you to name. Thank you all for taking time to help promote my work and reading it with honest feedback. My Street team. Thank you all for taking time to help spread the word about my books and help promoting for me. I couldn’t do this without your help. My Social Media connections, and everyone who I’ve met along the way. Thank you for being amazing people in my life. Finally, to the one who wished to remain unnamed, thank you for all you have done in providing inspiration for this trilogy. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you and thankful we have become friends. Now that the trilogy is done, I’m glad this isn’t goodbye for us and our friendship will live on forever. The Jester “Three-hundred thousand dollars!” The bidding war between the elite continued as scheduled, keeping everyone distracted from the disaster transpiring around them. Slowly rotating in the ballroom behind the attendees, I scanned the crowded event space for any sign of Felipe or Jesse. Emilio had alarmed me more than I wanted to admit, but my only focus right now was making sure my fiancée remained unharmed. In the years I had been alive, I had never panicked like I had over her wellbeing. It was the single most important thing to me. We had alerted security, and they were combing the interior and exterior of the hotel. They left no stone unturned as the masquerade ball went on as scheduled. Tonight, I would win the war. “Sold!” Sharon exclaimed from the stage, shattering my concentration. “Five-hundred thousand dollars!” My gaze shifted to where I had told Isabelle to stand, but she was not there. Tanya zipped through the crowd, holding her floor-length gown up as she rushed for the exit. What the hell?! I hurried toward her, alerting no one. I squeezed her shoulder, startling her. She whirled around to face me. Just as I was about to ask where she was going, her expression turned to terror. “What’s wrong?” I darted my eyes back and forth between her and the stage. “I was going to check on Isabelle.” “What?” My gaze widened, and my fists clenched at my sides when I finally processed that Isabelle was gone. “Where is she?!” “She went to the bathroom, but it’s been over five minutes and—” “Alone?!” I gawked over her head, seeing a paper sign on the bathroom just inside one of the ballroom doors. Closed for Maintenance. I swiveled around toward the secured exit. “Where is she?!” I stomped toward the armed security guard at his post. “Did you let someone out?” “Sir? Oh, yes, sir.” He barely dipped his head. “An emergency, though. Some pregnant woman wanted to use the bat—” “Merda!” I shoved him out of the way, forcefully pushing the metal bar, hurling the door open. Tanya followed, vigilantly at my side. “Stay close and stay behind me.” I moved her back. Unbuttoning my jacket, I hovered my hand over my holstered pistol as I sped down the hallway. “I don’t want you getting hurt.” “Valentino,” she hissed, struggling to keep my stride, “what’s going on?” Without another word, I hurried to the closest hall bathroom. A makeshift sign hung on the door. Closed for Maintenance. A clear indication something bad was happening since the hotel has branded signage for every occasion. On guard, and ready to draw my weapon at any moment, I shoved open the door. Silence. I crept through, hurling each stall open. Still nothing. Alarm swelled inside me as I stepped back into the hall. “She’s not in the men’s room either,” Tanya exhaled. “Why would you go in there alone, Tanya?!” “Sorry,” she whispered, “I was worried.” “I said to stay close,” I murmured as we hurried to the next nearest bathroom. “Boss!” Noah appeared just behind us, maintaining my pace. “Isabelle’s not in the ballroom.” Yet again, Another sign.