l Sto

crushing weight of reality. The scent of sandalwood and expensive whiskey filled

adowed. I turned my head slowly, every muscle in my body

ross the dark silk she

ally radiated from him was gone, leaving only the hard lines of a man who commanded armies. On the nightstand, a gold cuf

nd acidic, flo

eas

slept with the enemy. If my father found out, he wouldn't just dis

touched the cold floor. My dress, the expensive silk gown I had worn like armor last

, not daring to put them on, and crept toward the door. As I slipped into the corridor, leaving the lion's den, I didn't

later, the n

focating since Janiyah officially took over as the lady of the house. She moved through

ogs-it was the one area where he respected my intelligence. I had found discrepancies in the new contract Janiyah was p

your pretty eyes f

, wearing a white cashmere dress that cos

t," I said, my voice steady despite the ro

a husband," Janiyah interrupted, walking over to the desk. She placed a manicur

until I could smell her cloying perfume. "You are a liability. An expir

e of bile rose in my throat. I clamped a hand over my m

hant smirk on her face

s came two

me with kindness, knocked on my door. Her

iss Isobel," she whispe

asked, though the dread pooli

ooked at me with watery eyes, as

like dry bones. The door to my father's study was ajar. The smel

g at paperwork. He was staring at the wall, his back to me. Janiyah sat in

" I said

lging in his neck. He didn't speak. He simply picked up a

uck my cheek, the sharp edge slicing

It was a medical report from the doctor Jan

e word stood out. It was printed in bold, blac

GNA

left t

e walked around the desk, his heavy steps vibrating through the floor.

et I had carried from that penthouse suite had

rm. His eyes were devoid of fatherly love; there was only the cold

ver the gun holstered at his hip. "Tell me who did