THE COST OF LOVE AND PASSION

ed'

et of night. From my penthouse window, the skyline stretched infinitely, a remin

in my mind, a slow poison

fiancée wh

wasn't the type to throw idle threats. If he had rea

Kate was in t

he glass was sharp and controlled-midnight hair tousled from frustra

me. The amber liquid caught the city lights, glowing

dialed Kate. There was this habit I

t sound s

the second ring just

voice was sof

I asked, keeping

se. "Is some

ngers tightening around the phone.

ar

dead before sh

The streetlights flashed past in blurs of gold and silver, the

aut with restrained energy. I wasn't sure what I expe

n, dressed in an oversized cream sweater and dark green leggings. Her hair was loose this time, curling slightly at

g on?" she demande

sing the door behind

ogether. "Kevin- your

ne and

"And that's b

oesn't waste his time on small talk and we'v

you and Kevin?" she asked with

in and I built everything together. We were more than business partners-we were brothers, bound by ambition and late

I dug deeper and found the truth-money laundering, fraud, and enough skeletons in their closet to bury us both. I tried to sto

n had scoffed, standing by the window like he a

was worth selling o

ere the ideal

, leaked just enough information to make VanceCorp hesitate. Kevin retaliated.

final blow-the

company we built. He stood at the head of the table, victoriou

s cracked down hard-fraud, tax evasion, corruption.

ost eve

blaming himself

who abandoned him, who let him fall. His bitte

ertain, it's this-Kevin Hall doesn't forgive. He doe

ation to myself. I didn't want to trouble her and b

has something on me. And if he thinks our e

d. "So, what? He's going to spy o

e. Kevin enjoys playing the long g

epening as she chewed on the t

laugh. "Easier

erve more credit than you award me

as steel beneath the surface, a quiet strengt

ight cast shadows along her collarbone,

scared?

me, surprised

er head. "No. Ju

an eyebro

hat we had it all figured out. And now, suddenly, there's th

te myself. "Welc

"Great. Can't wait.

ve reassured her that I had everyt

I di

tracing the curve of her jaw, the way her

ous te

t," I said finally, forc

eyebrow. "You'r

ugh my nose. "

long moment before sh

hair fell over her

"You don't

e vanilla and honey-filling the space between us. "I do, act

what? You want to

right now, I think I'm playing the part so I've got to fill up every space m

in my chest. An un

d to le

her face. She froze, her breath catching just slightly, and for a moment, the w

we stood less than a breathing space apart, eyes locked, as I ga

that moment wasn't helping either. All I knew was at the moment I didn't want to be anywhere else, nothing else

get to t

tim, slowly but she stepped backwards

ed her throat a

night,

d and awkward, but I smiled, I did

night,

that she did what she did.

ding that my pulse hadn't jus

the sun had fully risen. The air was crisp, car

r, a fresh espresso in hand an

cup down on my desk. "What's got

e but didn't ans

ing across from me. "

a sin

ply. "I knew he'

crete," I said. "But he's wat

ed nails tapping lightly against the

Kate said th

sharpened slight

k in my chai

a moment before tilting

We're not d

We are absolute

other sip of coffee. "It d

d an eyebrow.

n't a

g with fire- don't tie a knot you'd be find

tching as the city stretched

ew how deep the situation is,

ind myself drowning in this foreseeable f