VELVET CHAINS ( OWNED BY THE BILLIONAIRE)

licked shut beside he

her lap, trying not to look back at the hotel entrance. She

d made h

s riding home

cufflinks before starting the engine

l, polite laugh

Xavier can drain the

d, caught

ly stay away from those meetings unless there's something in

quickly. "I'm ju

car onto the main road. "That's

dn't a

His voice dropped, playful. "You flinched when he lo

r," she w

"Honest. I

a while i

led past the wind

e again, sof

ot like t

stayed

building. "He sees you, you know. Even if he pre

sharply.

es. "You'll find out. Men like him never say it. B

icked hard

front of her

or handle, but he touche

ervous. I'm

t smile. "Thank

see you aga

hesi

at and handed it to her. "Jus

ed it i

iled. "Go

out without

e away, her pho

t was a pleasure

he message wi

-

oil and old books. Her mother was curled up on the couch

she said, looking

own to kiss he

iled. "You lo

a

t of her shoes a

r mother said, gesturing to t

ngry," Sasha murm

was a

reached f

oday. They're waiting on the

es briefly. "I'll f

you push your

m f

're

re the one in pain, Mom. I'

ng you can. I know that. Just promise me, Sasha... you're not

uiet for a

someone's watching you... not because they care,

inked. "What

at me. Like he's angry all the time. Like I've do

ay anythi

there. I don't know if it'

r frowned

" she lied

r a while, the radio s

stood. "Come. Yo

m, the weight of the day stil

the sheets and t

om wen

thoughts

ceiling, unable to shake the feel of X

en they