Betrayed By Miss Wrong, Claimed By Mr Right

idiculous, Izzy. He prov

ords were

einforced by Senator Hayes's private detail

ssionals, quick

rative, could have resisted

resistance would only make things worse, play

ke his arms, a grim a

er, her face cont

han. Loyalty and discipline. Or have

e, the very honor he cherish

hat tonight. Only brute

o a police station. Th

ted to a back room, s

and brutal. Not a formal be

rity men, their faces i

ach. Not enough to break bones, but enough

ard, tasting blood,

give them the

, on the cold anger that wa

or a moment, h

omething – hesitatio

d suddenly. The

ow leaning against a wall, his

e to Julian. Say it was your fault, yo

ercy, but laced with the deman

his own eyes blazi

g my family's honor, or for reacti

m. "He destroyed that map o

ovel. Not to he

compassion vanished, re

are a fool, Ethan. A s

"Continue. Perhaps more pa

sumed, harde

he world narrowing to the

blinding flash through his vision,

consci

s own apartmen

was there, his face etc

father, now ran a small veteran support NPO. He was Ethan

ith me?" Mac's gru

le screaming. His ribs fe

what h

y had their thugs work you over. Then the

is touch surprisingly gen

on, are you fit for t

dismissively, a sharp pai

Mac. Just need t

t he wouldn't let this sto

rned Ethan about Vance' s manipulative nature, about Izzy'

n the door star

ed it ca

od there, her expr

of cold anger. Wh

ally in front of

do you want? Haven

o days, to a warzone. For this country. Or

ow, simmering wit

lf up straighter,

looked directly at Izzy.

he room, holding a

map," she said, her voice flat. "

bal balm. Very effective for... bruises a

it on the c

u'll recover quickly. And that you'll understand... i

t was a warning, wrappe

king sure Ethan would

leave, pausi

well," she said, a strange note

the room

ed at the

nough not to cause a scandal before he left, and to e

ion, of her choice, settled i

for her, no emotion b

to Mac. "You know more about these th

to focus

sleek envelope was d

on. From Ju

a small, informal gathering tomorrow night. A farewell, of s

hook, the use of her author

chance for Julian to gloat, for I

rge of defiance

elp him pack and tend to his

s town. Don't give them another excuse. Go,

ew Mac was right. He

a trendy, exclusive l

ispleased, to see him. Clearly, the "

"Ethan! So glad you could make

erie, his eyes gli

ered word from Juli

oss the small, intimate crowd of Vance' s admirers

dismissive. A public declar

sive, lifting his glass i

host at th

engaged in overt di

m around her waist, whisper

highlight their bond, and, Ethan s

ng nothing but a

eir triumph, a symbol of

de his excuses an

of Julian's associates, large men

Hayes would like ano

where Izzy and Julian stood, a

an incident. A supposed 'attack' on my car as I wa

.. he thinks you might have orchestrated it. A foolish attempt to s

her, dumbfounded