for love. You're m

house glared under the harsh ligh

warning shots as she stepped into the room, her palm

older thicker than her college textbooks. But all Calla could focus on was the man seated across the room,

an W

was being fo

His presence filled the air like smoke-silent, suff

"Is it too late to wa

er, not unkindly. "It's already public knowledge. If you run now, your bro

id sharply, her father could rot for all she

of the courtroom. She was pulled toward him, as if fate

hen she entered. Not when

ide him, on the cold wooden be

gle g

frost-colored eyes, and

ured without looking at he

ot you

d, coolly. "Yo

t like poiso

olfe. Do you both agree to this legal union und

hesi

an d

voice like stone-smooth

rned to her.

n in the polished table surf

not

t

he said, bar

it wood lik

state, you are now

lt more like a senten

n't need to growl to scare the lamb. He extende

go home, M

took them away was

ow. Manhattan blurred beyond the glass-skyscrapers, headlights, horns-

drink from the crystal d

g to pretend to care,

, calm and unreadable. "Wou

understand wh

wirling the amber liquid in his glass. "I

ed. "You're

rre

nd I suppose I'm just supposed to smi

the armrest beside her. His br

ant a wife who knows the value of sile

ear, half from the electricity

e disg

effec

cru

at

red with brutal calm.

ction of a second-to her lips. The

swal

"Rule one: no running. Rule

f hair from her shoulder, ling

ess for weakness. I

but from the way her body reac

wasn't a home.

s. Stone floors polis

ke-cold, quiet, and drowni

or. He walked three steps ahead, like a

d the grand

it fully stocked. Clothes, essentials, guards outsid

g?" she

ep sepa

f. Not in fear. Something else.

a weekly schedule. Events. Meetings. Public appearances. You'll smile

her arms. "And

n her frame, slow

r's medical bills paid in full. Your mo

to her palms. "Y

k on his lips. "Monsters are easier to li

, Calla di

soft for comfort, staring at the ce

y on a mannequin in the corn

n the ceremony. Or the sil

were

an W

lk and steel. The way he looked at her like he co

hate

ade her feel-small

orst

part of her did

elt

eaked open

t instantly, h

sened, sleeves rolled up, eyes

e here," she sai

o make some

hout asking. Wit

, her silk nightgown bru

er. But his presence

ak the rule

er, his voice l

I can be far mor

chin. "I'm not

. "That's what mak

His hand didn't touch her, but hovered near her ja

she thought

he d

back, his expre

ell, Mrs

icked shut

because he kissed her.But because