Hundred Million Bounty on the Billionaire's Wife

Grace's POV

I died once.

Spent seventy years as a housewife the first time around. Biggest regret? Never felt my heart race.

Met her in this life, and that's when I learned what being alive actually meant. In this world where assassins pay in gold coins and seek sanctuary at Continental hotels, we became a duo called "Swans," hunting down the man who destroyed her family. Every single day, dancing on a razor's edge.

Two years ago, the explosion killed Raven Hayes right in front of me.

To survive, I married a naive tech heir, slipped into silk dresses and started doing the charity gala circuit, tried to convince myself this was the peace I wanted.

Until that enemy became a High Table member and announced a hundred-million-dollar bounty on me to the world.

I used to be scared. Used to run. Used to ask why it had to be me.

But sitting at my vanity, staring at this stranger's face in the mirror, all done up like some socialite, I suddenly realized none of it mattered anymore.

I'm going to die eventually anyway. Might as well die looking like myself.

Another year, another Thornton family gala. I sit in my corner wearing a champagne-colored gown, sunglasses and a thin veil covering half my face. Across the room, Carter chats with other guests, raises his glass to me with a smile. I lift my hand in return.

Our agreement. He handles the schmoozing, I play quiet decoration.

"That mysterious look again." A familiar voice drips with barely concealed mockery behind me. "What, got something to hide?"

I turn. Audrey Hartley stands there with her golden curls, perfect makeup, her textbook socialite smile. Here we go. Every single gala, she has to make her presence known.

"I just like keeping a little mystery alive." My voice stays calm.

"Mystery? Looks more like guilt to me. Who even knows where Carter dug you up."

"Audrey." Carter appears, his tone unusually cold. "You want to talk business? My office. Now."

Audrey's smile freezes for a second.

Carter pulls me away, leans in to whisper, "There she goes again. Seriously, something's wrong with that woman. Don't talk to her much, you'll catch whatever she's got."

I can't help but laugh. "That's how you talk about your childhood friend?"

"Just stating facts."

"Why don't we just get divorced then? Let her marry you and save me the hassle."

Carter sighs. "Quit joking, Grace. Look, go grab something to eat over there. Dinner won't start for a bit. I need to handle some business, I'll be right back."

"Go ahead."

After he leaves, I remove my sunglasses and veil, grab a glass of juice from the buffet.

Two years. Two years of silk dresses, charity auctions, society brunches. Sometimes I wonder if Raven saw me now, she'd laugh herself sick.

"Oh my god, finally got it!"

I look up. Audrey stands a few feet away, her phone pointed straight at me. I quickly put my sunglasses and veil back on, but it's too late.

She'd already hit send.

Less than thirty seconds later, a sharp alarm screams through the ballroom.

The tech director bursts in, makes a beeline for Mr. Thornton. I can't hear what they're saying, but Mr. Thornton's face drains of color instantly.

Three security guards head for Audrey.

"Ma'am, hand over your phone."

"What?" Audrey looks completely lost. "I just posted on social media."

"Now. Right now."

They confiscate her phone. The entire ballroom's network gets cut off. Tech team members scramble everywhere.

I stand frozen, feeling that familiar chill crawl up my spine.

A guard rushes to Carter's side, whispers something in his ear. Carter's expression shifts from confused to shocked. His eyes lock onto me.

He gestures toward the study.

I follow.

Inside the study, Mr. Thornton sits behind his desk, his expression more serious than I've ever seen it. The tech director stands beside him.

Carter looks at me, then at his father. "What the hell's going on?"

Mr. Thornton stays silent for a few seconds. "Carter, remember two years ago when we suddenly needed a contract wife?"

"You said it was for a business alliance."

"Actually, it was for protection." I cut him off. "Our marriage was a transaction. My new identity, in exchange for two years of safety for your family."

Carter stares hard at me. "What does that mean?"

"Means," I remove my sunglasses, meet his eyes directly, "I'm not some socialite. I'm an assassin."

The room goes dead silent.

Right then, every screen lights up at once.

Carter's phone, Mr. Thornton's tablet, the TV on the wall, even the ballroom's massive display. All of them showing the same face.

Young, sharp features, cold gray-blue eyes.

Damien Cross. My mortal enemy.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen." His voice echoes through the speakers. "Got some good news to share tonight. The legendary assassin 'Swans,' or should I say Miss Grace Mitchell? So you're still alive. Got yourself a comfortable life there, playing housewife in high society?"

Carter whips his head toward me.

Damien leans closer to the camera, his gaze turning ice cold. "As a member of the High Table, I'm officially announcing a hundred-million-dollar bounty on Swans. Time to settle that account from two years ago."

The screen goes black.

The ballroom erupts in panicked voices and screams. I walk to the window, push the heavy curtain aside.

In the distance, motorcycle engines already rumble to life.

"Grace..." Carter's voice is barely a whisper. "Are you really..."

"Yeah." I turn to face him. "I'm Swans. Legendary underground assassin. And right now, every killer in the world wants me dead."

Mr. Thornton stands. "We can increase security, or maybe..."

"It won't work." I shake my head. "A hundred million dollars. Enough to drive every assassin insane."

I look at Carter, his face pale. I stand, pull out a divorce agreement I've been carrying in my bag.

"I've been carrying this around, just in case this day ever came. Sorry for dragging you into this. You're a good man, Carter. If I were just some normal person... but I'm not. Never have been."

I give him one last smile, turn toward the door.

I, Grace Mitchell, am back.