sie

of antiseptic and the stale

piderweb of plaster that seemed to moc

My fingers hovered over my cheek. It was swollen, ho

" a voice said f

e he hadn't slept in a week. His suit was rumpled, his tie loose, and his usually

My voice was raspy, like I

ood up and stalked over to the bed. His eyes were dark with a fury I had never seen

nt instinctively to my stomach-a protective reflex I didn't

of the forgery and the embezzlement. The Family Council is... rattled. Craig broke

ough," I said. "I w

w. Chanel's father is pulling strings with th

the bed. The room spun for a second, tilting on its axis, th

d been buzzing non-stop, vibrating ag

lling,"

kno

t have to

ardening. "I need him to think

phone. I accepte

t a hair out of place. He was in his office, sitting in th

ike he was talking to an unruly child. "Where

camera angled so he couldn't se

w the bruise. Good. Le

convenienced. "Last night got out of hand. You pr

u by existing,

I'm willing to be generous. Come home. Sign a statement saying you were drunk

lready transferred to

wed. "You've b

een sur

peeked out. "You are nothing without me. I made you. And now I'm don

like a physical

didn't work. But the intent was clear. He was

're sterile from the steroids you took in your twenties? Or

he was insecure about his virility, and

turned purple

t care if she gives you a football team. Because by the

e Senator!

aid. "Not failure. And you are

hand was shaking, but

e was smiling. A gr

he bait?"

ied to hurt me with the pregnanc

ile folder. "Because of the evidence of the forged signatures, Craig's p

he

s. The T

there,"

bruise on my cheek was turning a hideou

ge of honor. It was t

me a flight to Zurich tonight. I need to access the accoun

the b

I placed my hand

aid. "For

de. His jaw dropped

d. "And he never will. This

" Elek started, his

shed. "That's why we have to kill him fi

look back at the bed. I di

was dead. The strategist was awa