Chapter 8 · Hearing

"Explain this." Salvatore Falcone dropped the marriage certificate on the table and stabbed the signature line with one finger. "Explain why my nephew's husband signed his real name."

The paper skidded an inch and stopped against my hand. My name. Eli Tan, in my own handwriting, under a line that was supposed to hold a fake one.

"It's my name," I said. "That's usually how it works."

"Not on a job contract." Salvatore didn't raise his voice. He didn't have to. Two men stood behind him like furniture that could kill you. "A job marriage runs on paper we can burn. You gave me paper we can't."

Nico stood by the window, arms crossed, jaw so tight I could see the muscle jump. He hadn't said a word since they walked us in here. That scared me more than the certificate did.

"So burn it," I said. "Annul it. Problem solved."

Salvatore smiled like I'd said something cute and stupid. "You don't annul a real marriage in a hearing room, Eli.