nthouse felt heavier

of wealth anymore. It was th

poken to Damo

topped

ve her. Like she believed the thin piece of wood could keep him out. But she wasn't stupid. She knew lock

st trapped in

ed in somethi

she didn't

.. somethi

ty stretched far and wide, glittering like a world she'd never belonged to. The streets, the

nted a

ge. Why Damon Reeves, a man who could buy anything,

hrough the door, it wasn't sh

as t

with

thr

com

ose thr

er that this wasn't

e fol

adn't seen before. Deeper. Colder. The air shifted

t of a door she didn't reco

t looked li

Four gray walls

n she s

ot

eds o

f the room. Taped to glass panels that lined the far wall. In black-and-white

oto was of t

lood tur

woman look

heart-shaped face. Sa

s nearly

b, her eyes scanning the images like t

epared for wh

ked professiona

were...

urveillance images in parking garages. And then, the

scene

lood. Shat

ach twisted

arely get t

throat closed

ce came fro

. Em

ame wa

urned

ally. He was staring past her, i

is voice was too calm. Detached in a wa

t tightened

o leave?" sh

nodded

killed

ough struck. Her en

" Her voice cracked. "

hat they

's heart was

found hers. And this

k Fal

anded like

bled back

"That's impossible. I don

are

re you

change. But his voice did.

you're conne

desperately. "Beca

pposed to meet someone the night she died. Someone no one cou

rt pounded

nued, "they think that

stagg

I don't ev

don't

to breathe. "You think that person-the

w they

body turn

cracked. "You used me as

said n

ce was confir

shook with cold and betrayal a

he whispered. "Why didn't y

't trus

hit harder t

rom the wall of images. Fro

She felt like she was unra

herself t

ok at

didn't look like the ruthless billion

a man who'd l

fraid to

o lose you too,"

a b

essing her hands against her

her," she

kno

let

voice

can

elt i

eal p

ing her here t

se she was the only piece left in a puzzle he couldn't solv

chance to

k Fa

he name to hers

lt it pressing down on her chest

Emma Haye

't even

as a

plac

ist

ilently down

she whispered br

asking

rned t

nce meeting Damon Reeves,

th of

in a war neither o

her of t

of them had an

knew some

wasn't s

as a deat

killed Aria for

ld they