ab driver. "Midtown. As fast as you c

ntire ride fixing her hair in the rearview mirror, pinching her cheeks

ut, sprinting the last hundred yards. She ducked into a Starbucks, bought a cold

g at the curb. The back door op

at. The interior was cool and

wasn't

ding. But then she saw the iPad mounted on the s

ice, looking down at some papers, but the moment t

the cage?" Miles's voice drifted from the

ned. "Hello

pipe," he said. His voice was fla

per handled it quickly. It was...

ty. He was studying her face on the screen, looking for the li

"call Niles. Don't handle things y

ping the cold coffee cup

ment in ten minu

een wen

seat, closing her eyes. Her ha

w. Garrick didn't acce

g on the velvet sofa in the living room, flipping a si

keep her head high. "I'

nce between them in two strides. He stopped inches from her. He

inhaling deepl

different,"

her ribs. "I... it was t

e up, his fingers trailing down the side of her neck, r

lied quickly. "For... headache m

hen, his hand moved to the back of her neck, his fingers tangl

hing but me," he whispered. "Or when you

d, bruising. He tasted of scotch and control. Ever stood rigid, letting him take what h

tly heavier. He reached into his po

n ar

t her skin. She heard the clasp click

e warned, his voice vibr

lls reflected them-a tall, powerful man in a tuxedo, and a woma

her hand. His grip was fi

he said

es

paused, watching her profile. "

dn't breathe. She couldn't thin

. "I haven't thought about it. You don

ndow. "True. They are liabilities. Weakness

ty lights. My son is not a parasite, she scr

ging the subject as if he hadn't just stopped

r f

ed, his grip tightening until her knu

know him," E

eep it t