went on lockdo
it first throu
aling, guards repositioning, footsteps measured and purposeful. Even the staf
shadow. The hedges that had looked ornamental the night before now seemed
Lucien had
ore like
soft knock
in," s
o his forearms. He looked different tonight-less polished, more a
be by the win
ve. "Someone
es
ou mi
ed. "This isn't
. "Neither is u
at p
ed," he sa
not b
or behind him. "You'
's on
g. "There are people who've wanted access to t
it," she said fla
riage," he corre
eep saying that like it's su
shou
does
careful distance away. "I didn't
ew danger w
es
. "So you cho
least destruc
ng more than
eral damage,"
immediately. "Y
sharp and humorles
didn'
s pocket and placed somethi
ph
he
Direct line to me. If anything f
evice. "You expect me t
r n
eluctantly. "And h
r gaze. "Unti
not an
only hon
between them aga
r voice low. "Who was
on hardened. "You
es
recognize
es
seemed to
e?" she
n hes
her more than any e
reat," she said slo
looke
s confi
closer. "I deserve to know
ed. "You deser
ance makes
mitted. "Co
his eyes
nt, the ma
a fra
. "You think I wanted my life tied to some
est ti
mpire," she said. "I did
kno
eating me lik
-really studied he
break easil
o you," sh
g-approval, perhaps-p
can," he said at las
y n
ou know, you ca
his gaze.
pond, a sharp knock
po
ge
ned instan
e fractured for the first ti
she said. "It came throug
ent rigid. "That g
d. "Which is why sec
ll creep up her sp
a added, looking
re under h
s it?" h
he st
he ordered. "No s
ded and le
Lucien. "You sai
eady moving. "Which is
th every step. The study was dimly lit, one
at on t
al
ai
ordi
, stopping Ariella be
ot a c
y respons
s deba
ning look, then r
tic
wir
ed it c
s a singl
otog
went
closer before he
d partially o
eath c
was
weeks ago. Looking ove
en in neat black i
w who
lt suddenly
ching me," Ari
es
the ma
es
d. "So this isn'
't answer i
. "They were already close. You used the m
met h
ed the timel
hook. "By t
ieldin
r gave me
. "If I had, you
ed. "And I would
shed down b
ella str
he said
rowned.
re sec
't get t
she cut in. "And I c
pointing at the ph
gaze for a long,
he
as C
her like a
ued. "He doesn't bluff. And he d
ed hard. "Inter
s eyes
yo
zzed suddenl
crypte
reath
down at t
WN CA
n shifted instantl
ne buzz
e appeared be
Mrs. Bl
inally being int
fingers
ached for
answered
," he
la
oice said smoothly. "Or do
ood ra
et this number
tly. "You married in
yes burned
ll Lucien this-marriage doesn't end
ne wen
at the phone,
sed his ey
at her, his e
etly, "is where it
ear and resolve col
uth," she said. "And start treating
studi
somethin
ell," h
ce steady despite the terror insi
/1/108169/coverbig.jpg?v=d5d7eec68d506045e3b9157167802d96&imageMogr2/format/webp)