He's Good at Being Bad

ife. She was seventeen when it poured the day she first arrived, shivering and soaked to the bone, dumped like an unwanted package at the foot of the iron gate

erself, watching the headlights of a sleek black car cut through the darkness and p

ad c

in the orphanage, clinging to Reina's skirt. "They

ence lived in Mari's wide brown eyes.

she whispered back. "T

d ask more questions. There were

dust, and something darker: desperation. That day, Reina had been told the truth. The government funds had stopped. Dona

s together. "There's a man. A powerful man. He's offering enou

steless joke. But Madame Cora's eyes held no amuse

ll me," Reina

eighteen in a few weeks. You'll be free to ch

ights passed before R

money comes first. I want to see the re

iled, but Reina could

the car h

t, far too expensive for someone like her. She didn't wear makeup. She didn't

thered behind Madame Cora, staring at her with wide eyes, s

nt door

rain. Black coat, dark hair slicked back, eyes like

ierce B

illio

bu

e, gaze cool as

pected," he said flatly.

lenched. She

ded a gl

om

like

ons. No lies

ok at the children,

step like sinking through wate

her life ended-and s

cologne, and a tinted window that separated them from the dri

clasped on her lap, stari

said eventually. His voice was smooth, b

you," she replied.

ves rarely matter in m

omething hardening in her spin

ou will live in my house. You will follow my rules.

not a

. "Dogs are loy

her eyes. "

. What I need is a name. An agreement. Someone no one

'm a

act

anipulation-charming words wrapped in threats. Bu

son, that sc

people?" she

her. "Would

eath c

he truth,

. But yes," he said calmly. "I have kille

lways known men like him lived by different rules. And maybe, j

tes, stone walls, and lights glowing like fireflies thro

She had never seen wealth like this. It was su

was expressionless, bowed low, and

g at her. "She'll stay in the west wing. L

s,

her thin

ned sharp

den said. "You don't need

er tongue and followed the butler instead, each step echoing

anopy bed, silk sheets, a view of the city below. It sho

it d

a different k

eft, he placed a sm

m A

phone, a credit card,

d you'll

and you'll learn

at the note f

tore it

d far too soft for a