TWISTED DESIRE

towering walls exuding an air of untouchable wealth. Inside, chandeliers dripped wit

d by luxury, power, and the unspoken

felt anything

gsley-his father, his greatest critic-flipped through a file on his desk. The ol

," William said, his voi

't flinch. "

humorless chuckle escaped his lips. "Raymond, you let Et

er had eyes everywhere, but hearing it s

th Ethan," he

r a long moment before no

d the file ac

ey Adams, Jovita Blake, and anyone else who had the nerve to challenge him. Hi

ated. "I don'

kened. "You don't

tched between them bef

he said, his voice softer but no less comma

ook the file, and

ble halls of his home, a sing

is father wasn't talki

s talking

onfro

pected-leaning against the marble fountain in front of Rose

in the mood

pped just inches away. "Why

link. "Because he doe

nto fists. "You don'

d-barely noticeab

cting you,

it. "Protecting me? From what, Raymond? A

d across his face. "Y

ke me un

le

ng himself. He was used to peop

el wasn'

as Is

sn't letti

hrough his hair. "You think I'm being controlling, but you h

" she g

sed. "He's

carefully. "An

rd her, his eyes flashing.

he

sture, the way his fingers twitched like he wanted to br

raid of l

n furious. She shou

k a slow step closer

e to do this a

llowed

t, she thought he might ac

expressio

" he murmured. "Stay

g her standing there with m

Ulti

d when Ethan Sterling f

ise him was wh

you to j

frowned.

Smarter than most of the idiot

need your

ke you." He leaned in slightly. "But let's get one t

ossed his

ime fighting him when you

o, what? You think I should betray Ra

ed. "Not a puppet,

y hesi

, clapping Jeffrey on the shoulder before walking off. "

d him go, his

time, he wasn't just f

in something

a's W

rey staring at the city skyline from

en hit by a truck," she

ghed. "Clo

wa

pause, he told her

en shook her head. "You alrea

hand over hi

n sa

. "I won't be par

tugged at he

t, the distant hum of the city

voice softer. "Raymond isn'

er, frowning.

et hi

time, he saw rea

pulling th