The Cost of His Clean Slate

his voice a low command. "Stay the

ging over the city, rain lashing against the glass. It w

trol. He couldn't stand the thought of me walking out, of me

lips. "And talk about w

e. This was it. The final cut. I had given him my youth, my mind, my loyalty

A flash of irritation crossed his face, the mask of the charmi

a decade?" My voice was sharp, sarcastic. "

jaw tightened, a muscle pulsing in his cheek.

his features into an expression of cool detachment. It was th

uel smile spreading across

innocent, and completely out of place in the predatory atmosphere of his penth

possessive arm around her waist. He

ng with affection. "I' d like you to meet

yes cold and dismissive. "Scarlett,

ord, a deliberate t

ruel comparison. "She needs protecting. She' s not built for the kind o

s stole the air from my lungs. Ten years of partnership, of

pressure became too much. He had remade me into what he needed, a woman who could thrive in the dark. And now, he was holding that ve

He glanced at the screen, an

ady turning his back, already walking away.