The orchestra swelled as Red let herself be pulled into the dance, her fingers laced in the strong grip of Mr. Wolfe.

  His hand rested firmly against the small of her back, his movements smooth, practiced. Every step, every turn felt effortless. He wasn’t just a good dancer—he was an exceptional one.

  For once, Red wasn’t thinking about the Wolf case. She wasn’t running theories in her mind or mentally dissecting a crime scene. She was just… enjoying herself.

  She let herself indulge in the moment, in the music, in the way Wolfe carried himself—with confidence, charm, a magnetic energy that felt intoxicating but also primal, almost dangerous.

  She had never been one for fairy tales, but for the first time, she wondered if Cindy was onto something with this whole finding-your-prince-at-the-ball thing.

  From the sidelines, Peter Pan watched, jaw tight.

  The moment Red had accepted Wolfe’s hand, something in him had clenched.

  It wasn’t just jealousy.

  It was something deeper, something uneasy.

  Red was wearing a dress that made heads turn, her signature red transformed from a hoodie into something elegant, something breathtaking. And now, she was dancing with a man who had entered the room like he owned it.

  The way Wolfe carried himself, the way he smirked like he was already winning—something about him set Peter on edge.

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  He clenched his fists, trying to convince himself he was overreacting.

  But he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

  Across the room, Cindy had also noticed Wolfe.

  From the moment Red had stepped onto the floor with him, Cindy’s gaze had been drawn to them.

  The tall, handsome stranger exuded confidence in a way that made him stand out, even in a room full of princes and socialites.

  And Cindy wasn’t alone in noticing.

  A few other women were already whispering about him, trying to figure out who he was, where he came from.

  Cindy took a sip of her champagne, a slow smile spreading across her lips.

  He was hot.

  And if Red was done dancing with him, maybe Cindy would be next.

  As the waltz came to an end, Wolfe spun Red once more before pulling her back into him, his grip firm but never forceful.

  He held her there for a beat longer than necessary, eyes locked onto hers.

  For a second, Red forgot to breathe.

  She was enjoying this. Really enjoying it.

  Then—

  A familiar prickle.

  Something at the back of her mind.

  A feeling.

  The same feeling she’d had at the market.

  The moment shattered like glass.

  She pulled back slightly, trying to shake off the sensation.

  Wolfe noticed the shift in her expression.

  He smiled. Slow. Amused.

  But his eyes?

  His eyes were watching her carefully. Like a predator watching to see if its prey had caught on.

  Before Red could fully process it, Cindy appeared beside them.

  “Wow,” Cindy said, eyeing Wolfe with clear interest. “That was impressive. Where did you learn to dance like that?”

  Wolfe turned his attention to her, his smile never faltering. “Here and there.”

  Cindy grinned, stepping forward. “Well, since Red has had her turn, I think it’s only fair that I get mine.”

  She extended her hand.

  Red’s stomach twisted.

  She wasn’t sure why.

  Wolfe took Cindy’s hand, bowing slightly. “It would be my pleasure.”

  And just like that, the trap was sprung.