ing under the desk lamp. He hadn't even looked at the alimony fig

e said, her voice soundi

the desk and walked toward the small guest closet

credulity sharpening her tone. "You have no job. Your f

s into it-jeans, t-shirts, a leather jacket. He ignored the design

aid, zipping the bag shut. The sound

ok a step toward him, her face flushing. "I

g her personal space until she was pressed back against the bookshe

a gesture that used to make her melt, used to make her

rough. His eyes wer

. Her body betrayed her, leaning imperceptibly int

word lacked conviction. She was staring at

led his hand away and wiped his thumb on his

s said softly,

d walked out

ed by the sheer indignity of it. He wiped h

grabbed a crystal paperweight from the desk and hurled it at the door, but he

ing in the foyer, holding the front door open. His face was a mask of profes

ont of him. He look

Marcus," C

rved powerful men his whole life. He knew what a predator looked like. And the man stand

arcus murmured, ste

nto the crisp morning air of the Hamptons.

icured lawns or the fountain. He walked straight to the ruste

eat and got in. The engine coughed,

rview mirror. He saw Elizabeth standing on the balcony, her sil

d days ago in the old Chris's memories. He dialed a number from a life he h

muttered, and