hty-eighth floor of Sanders Tower. Below him, Manhattan was a grid of gray conc

his left

e line over the last six years, but on rainy days, it still throbbed w

ght he had

ir

nd. He kept his eyes fixed on the horizon, his reflection i

ng a hideous deformity. It was a lie carefully cultivated by his grandfather,

and perfectly healthy. His face was sharp, defined by a jawl

ald commanded, his voice

ead of security, stepped into the room. He

ro said, hesitating. "An old travel document linked to th

he association tasted

ace-to-face, the woman who had married him for his money a

" Archibald aske

at JFK. Flight

rning here. The expulsion order was clear. If she s

r," Casimiro reminded him gently. "

of black marble that cost more than most people's homes. "She's probably back to beg

assion that burned almost as hot as

An

ped into his drink that made him lose his mind. He remembered stumbling into the wrong room. He remembered the

him aggressive, primal. But he also remembered her

needed to apologize. He needed to know if s

ri

spent hours staring at dust motes in the sunlight. The DNA test had confirmed Darien was his, f

s mother. Not Annelise Parker, the gold-digge

r escorted to a holding room. Have the final dissolution papers ready. I w

ed on the tablet. "The manifest lists dependents travelin

paused. "D

he was busy, wasn't she? Probably dragg

screen lit up with a picture of a

owned the shipping lanes he needed, and the press loved her. She claimed to be t

e phone. "What

. "Where are you? You promised to pick me up! The press is already

dge of his nose. He had f

the Rolls. The Phantom.

in

ed his jacket from t

I deal with Jenelle. I don't want to be in the same terminal as that woman, but this is a conv

ing up the distance. The doors slid open, re

. He looked impeccable

Archibald reached up and touched his shoulder again. Th

s sudden, overwhelm

ady," Casimiro said

ail flanking him instantly. The convoy of black SUVs a

the Phantom, the leathe

ed the driver.

going to end this. He would force Annelise Parker to sign the papers, ban

's live feed. He would watch this pathetic reunion from a

peeding toward a collision t

ibs. The officer in the booth was frowning at her passport. He typed

nnelise asked, trying t

k up. "Just a system l

ove under the desk. He pres

ts closer, her protec

her sleeve. "That man i

lise whispered

he was minutes away from facing the man she hated most