winning orchid. The flower fell to the tiled

he asked, no

the climate-controlled cool of the room. "No, ma'am. We've scru

hears at him. "A woman doesn't leave a bloodstain

," Quentin said. "The only anoma

paused. "

es

ed his engagement to her," Vict

. Evita Peck. The silent, abused girl. The perfect cover. And now,

ife?" Victoria asked the air. "

a'

that night. Exactly wh

e sounds of grunting and metal

ped to the bar, his upper body heaving, muscles coiling like steel cables

ight. Tw

e against gravity and

mat. He dragged himself toward his chair, refu

t," he

erapis

into the chair. His arms

h. The news was playing. Julian Kensington, holding

r our mutual love for q

een. She looked terrified. Her eyes were w

a

The way she held her should

. The woman in the dark. The

ttered. "It

And if Julian wanted her,

our grandmother is asking for a

looked

he thinks... she thinks there

e screen. Julian looked sm

Julian had been in Beirut the day the car bomb wen

e car," Jed

You haven't left the

at from his face with a towel. "I think it's time I congratu

the image o

h whispered to the empty ro