o move; they simply scattered, terrified of being in his path. The silence in the ballroo

e at the diamond brooch that was worth more than m

ed, sweat beading on his

esture, but it silenced the security chief instantly. Ar

his tuxedo jacket. The movement was fluid, practiced. He draped the heavy fabric over her shoulders, pulling the lapels tog

a claim

s. Van der Hoven. "Did you

his calm tone. "Well, yes, of cou

, Carter, who had materialized silentl

ice shrill. "The cameras don't cov

s cousin. His eyes were dead. "There are no

d the stage. The room turned to watch. The footage was grain

ket. The glint of the diamond in his hand was unmistakable. He bumped into her. His han

me was one of sh

d dollars this morning from a shell company registered in the Cayman Islands. A comp

ifted to her. Tiffany took a step back, her heel catching on the carpe

r portfolio tomorrow. I believe your husband's shipping firm is up for contra

rned ashen. "Arturo,

nnamon's shoulders-his grip iron-hard-and s

ehind them. Cinnamon tried to match his stride, her legs shak

s slid shut, cutting them off fr

op button. The elevator jer

ess was gone, replaced by a cold, simmering fury. He reached ou

e?" he demanded. His v

amon stammered, her back

handling it, Cinnamon. That is becoming a liability." His mind raced, calculating the potential damage-the headlines, the effect

injustice finally bubbling over. Tea

oo smart to be a thief and too proud to be a petty

supposed to

. I am the one who fixes thin

d just enough to hold her. "I don't want you to fix everyth

the ice cracked. He looked tired. He looked... human. But the

a small square. H

r application to the FBI Academy at Quantico. The on

k," she said,

reach. "The FBI? Really? You think the federal gov

voice trembling with rage. "I can pass th

umpled the paper in his fist. "Watts women do not become federal agen

eading my

g that impacts the estate. And you, my dear, are

ed, shoving his chest. It

whisper. He leaned in, his lips inches from her ear. "And

ncy button. The elevat

eated. He had intercepted the letter.

The air was damp and smelled of gasoline.

a moment, staring at the open door. She could run. She could run right now. But where? She h

bed into

rough emails. He didn't look at her. The part

ights blurred into streaks of neon. She hated him. She hated how safe she

d at it, and for a split second, Cinnamon sa

a secure server. The header

ated beat against the leather case. He wasn't just angry at her. He was