BOUND BY HIS TERMS

Hart'

as I stood frozen in my apartment, clutchi

xt to Jaxon Vale like they wer

med in my head: *He lied t

axon? Why hadn't anyone mentioned this? And who

myself to calm down. This couldn't be ano

p, pic

fifth ring, out of b

over h

er, she rushed in, still carrying her bag, ey

s goi

ace went from worried to sh

ur dad? An

when or why. And someone le

voice. You thi

He knows

efore sitting next to me.

until I have some answers. Not

t if your dad was mixed up in whatever Jaxon's doin

se part of me had al

omy sky. Manhattan was too bright, too noisy. Each ste

nce room. Alone. Leaning against

he said with

are

me then. Some

t across the table. Someone left thi

the photo. When he saw it, something flashed

that photo

doing with m

Briefly. He was working on a fancy tech patent

ank. Proje

breaking. But your dad disappeared before the deal worked out. Th

ut I kept my voice steady. So y

Columbia, and I knew you had no clue. You were reall

rld had been changed wi

n't you

because I needed to figure out what was

d me into this deal, into

for your work. I gave you a

name into this

d you s

cage

saw worry in him. Guilt. B

ing distant. You'll be on a global show if af

e sounded honest. But honesty from a guy who p

or fashion week. Reporters crowded hotel lobb

d myself staring at a

us R

a pillar, hands in his

'd be here

rms. What do y

lways wanted.

You knew about the

Jaxon spil

you real

t have to be Vale's puppet. Join me. Phoenix unde

And in this world,

in it f

losure. Revenge. Ma

Eva showed up, saying

you change your mind, I'll be at

he va

t, lights flashing, cameras going cr

them

desperate. If the fire inside me came

Jaxon on the deck, sle

d it off,

, I re

d. Will

t depends. Are t

e wanted to say someth

my hotel room, I st

ht was

t away when something

her

wasn't of Ja

of Dian

Next to a

ind the

oked

: *She made him go

d at th

cked up t

verything on D

t just abo

was

my hotel room flickered.

dows, a voice wh

hould have