aide

my eyes. I wasn't in my cramped room at the Hebert estate. The air here was different-crisp, filtered

mie

ing a men's silk shirt, the fabric swallowing my frame. Panic

arranged with military precision. A black credit card with

heavy, ancient gold, set with a blood-red ruby engraved with the Maddo

left ring finger

in a daze, the terror mounting with every button I fastened. Everything fit as if tailored for m

screen illuminating a single text mess

ed. Welcome to the f

to me. I had traded a weak t

was a call. The screen flashed a name tha

s and texts cluttered

e are

ing a scene

and I might

cing the fear. Andrew thought he still held the leash. He didn't rea

pe a reply. With a satisfyin

ye, An

d always been my sanctuary: the university library. But e

irl who made my fa

, spinni

had the same dark intensity as Damien, though her eyes held a spark of mischievous curiosity

give you this. Unlimited limit. And he said if

hammering against my ribs. "

pted eyebrow. "So, what are you?

rds tasting like ash. "He hired me to appra

at smelled faintly of her father's house. She didn't buy it. I coul

Well, come on then. Let'

t. I expected her to walk to her own car, but she stopped in fr

back of the truck sat a car that looked more like a weapon than

stepping back. "I

glass, reinforced chassis. My father doesn't do 'safe' halfway. And besides, a Don's Comm

, whispering. The flash of cameras

forward, holding out the k

he ring on my finger. They were

rmurs of the crowd. She grinned, a shark-like expression

than a gunshot. Every head turned.

ing into my palm. There was no hidi