I Built Your Empire, Now It Burns

the moment he stepped over my broken h

York, but he forgot that I was the one who fun

house. She wore my silk robe, mocked my past trauma, and

in grief, Caleb

, comforting her while callin

e without his protection. He thought I was just

king, forgetting that I was

ped the blood from my arm

ercent of his laundering front and t

ialed the number of his dea

Caleb. I'm selling my

pte

Vitie

broken heart to answer a text from his mistress, but I knew our marriage was trul

more than most people earned in a year. He was typ

ook up when

n I placed my wedding

the surface, a sound that echoed in t

a low rumble, the kind that usually made my

to talk

of New York. He was the Architect. The Capo who had transmuted street violence into corporate strategy. He was the m

laundering reports for the Nexus opening. If we do not was

d shoulders strained against a custom suit, a lethal grace that scre

e is buzzi

sitting next to his scotch gl

work,"

berly," I

suffering sound. He picked

e coordinate the drop. You know this. Why do you insi

pon. He knew I hated the weight o

ts to keep it steady. "She asked me about the anniversary of my mother's death. She knew deta

e desk, towering over me. He smelle

for the life. You cannot handle the pressure of what

ated. "Is that what

my cheek, but I flinched. His eyes narrowed. "You are acting li

ator doo

plastic bags from the Thai place Caleb loved. She was wearing a skirt that

ok at me. She looked only at him. "I thought you

d been radiating off him when he looked at

ifesaver, Ki

an money, the inheritance from my grandfather that built the Nexus casino

rab plates. She moved like she lived h

again. "Show Kimberly some respect. S

was humming. She was

w to your whor

pped a fork. Caleb stepped toward

r mouth,"

tà, Caleb. You told an outsider family secrets. You to

eaving,

e never stepped foot on a sidewalk without three bodyguards. You are a princess in a towe

ved since I was nineteen. Th

tood on my toes. I look

n I sla

covering her mouth. Caleb slowly turned his head back to me. His cheek was already reddening. Ther

done,"

and walked tow

at door, do not think you can come crawl

e button for the lobby. As the doors closed, I saw Kimberly han

s al