y. The overhead track lighting dimmed, plunging the room into a moody twilight. A single, harsh spotl

one announced, her voice trembling with t

It pooled on the flo

sucked the oxyge

standing by a window, half-naked. The play of light and shadow was m

scar ran across the

e knew that scar. She had traced it with her fingertips in the dark. She had kiss

splay for three hund

eilly?" a man whisper

true then," a

hem was sharp. It was a power move. She was telling the world she knew Easton intima

o the podium. "Opening bid

eternal. This wasn't about money. It was about control. Using her traceable trust fund was a fool's move. But moving millions from her anonymous crypt

d. Her voice shook, but it was audibl

d. The room

hest. "Oh, Frederica. You want

nd!" a voice called from the b

s bleeding money from an account that would be scrutinized in t

alms were sweating. She was up to half a million dollars. She

ng tedious," a

bidder. It

onto the stage. He simply raised his phone to his ear,

erest in the Sinclair Gallery's parent company. The price is irrelevant. Once the transaction is complete, dissolve the ga

her facade cracking. "It i

the stunned crowd before landing on Frederica. He di

her hand still rai

mped his hand around her wrist. His grip wa

trying to twist her arm aw

low growl near her ear. "What did you think you

or be dragged. He pulled her through the stunned c

trembling Simone, Easto

ding the dissolution," he threw the w

to the cold night air. He shoved her toward the waiting blac

her into the backseat.

rs," he order

The tinted windows rolled up, sealing them