through the floorboards and rattling Eve's teeth. The air

iers who had died in battle. She stared at the amber liquid in her fourth glass. Her v

down," the bartender said, e

. She slapped the card

ng the icy composure she had worn for twenty-six years. She wanted to numb the vo

a-VIP section parted. A group of men in bespoke

em was Cha

lebratory drinks were giving him a headache. He adjusted his cufflinks, his expression one of bored disdain as

t over the ba

the counter in a dress that looked li

ublic. Eve Franks didn't have a hair out of plac

curiosity overriding

aking the room spin. Through the haze of vodka and tears, the fi

sharp lines of Charls's face softened in her v

d whispered. He

d off the high stool. Her heels

e his brain did. He stepped forward, reaching

his chest. It was

ried her face in his shirt, inhaling deeply. He smelled of sandalwood and cold winter air. It

He tried to peel her off. "What

, ruining her makeup. Her eyes were wide, glassy,

cupping his jaw. Her th

ilent. Phones were raised. T

bbed, her voice cracking. "Why did you

deafening. Even the DJ seeme

oked around, seeing the faces of half of New York's so

you s

he woman who had sued him three times last year, was c

her wrists. "You are drunk. L

ried, clinging tighter. "Yo

ark. He felt a vein

lines would read Wiley Assaults Drunk Franks Heiress. If he left her here, she'd be

e. And for some godforsaken reason, she was looking at h

" Charls