PRICE OF REDEMPTION

pte

ce neutral, her breaths measured. The high-ceilinged hallway stretched out before her, empty but echoing with the silent tension she

hing she couldn't shake. A magnetism

nterprises, needing to escape the suffocating power that seemed to press down on her with every moment spent in his

rating fast. Ava bit her lip, f

ld not afford to be weak, not when all they had was on the precipice of being taken away from them. She put the phone down and strode through the bu

kwood wasn't a man who gave anything freely. She had felt it in every glance, every

edge of his desk. She was different. That much was evident the first time she came through the door

t expect

as on the line. The empire he had constructed over the years was not as strong as people might think from the outside. And Luca

Monr

s and was one of those people who had an indomitable spirit. She failed to realize that it was going to be

d soon come

bones. The tightness that had been in her back during the meeting with Damon Blackwood started to dissipate, but it was replaced

n, yes, but in real life, he was much more. His physicality was oppressive, and controlling, and yet there had b

to have a life here in a world that had always been beyond her dreams. Blackwood Enterprises was her best

ream, she could sense that she

she was deep in thought. It was Claire the only person that she had then tur

was not sure if she wanted to discuss the day but Cla

ied, attemptin

Claire seemed happy during the phone call, b

softness of the couch cushions. "It wa

ed. "Well, did you at least try

f it. "But he's... hard to read. There's more to him than the

riers were always breached by her, even w

a word of warning. "Men like Damon Blackwood-they don't p

't see her. "I know. I know I'm not g

ed to get into her skin and this feeling was rather uncomfortable for her. She had to remain steadfast,

through the glass. He had spent his life mastering control-control over his business, his em

made had to be calculated, precise. One wrong step, and everything he'd built would crumble. And ye

. There was no room for vulnerability in his world. Whatever this was, w

ldn't just be his empire at