e floor-to-ceiling windows, hitting Daniella'

ped and

ed in time with her heartbeat. She looked ar

other side of the bed

ashed into her. The heat. The s

er dress was on the floor, the zipper torn. It was unwearable. She grabbed a white robe

coffee table. Her phone was

s. Five missed call

the last vo

u? I have a video of you last night. You look like

e screen blurred. Fear was there, yes, but ange

reply. Her f

with Crockett Blackburn last night. Let's see who th

gerous bluff. She didn't know who the man wa

tt Blac

came from

ound, nearly dro

oom. He was wearing a navy suit that fit him lik

aid. His eyebrow

the blood drai

d a name he would be afraid of. A g

to her, the heavy wool of the carpet

l, silver

em both, confuse

sip of his coffee, his eyes never leaving her face. "High def

ver stick in her hand. It

have this?"

s a loose end. This silences him. In return, you will honor t

ercing grey. He was terrifyingly handsome, in a way that

e asked. "Money? I don

e. She pulled the robe tighter, c

need compliance. Keep the drive. Consider it a leash. I know wh

ears prick her eyes, but she refused to let th

, her voice stiff. "I

ure yo

er purse. She walked to the door,

e door clicked shut behind her. "Get me the

he numbers drop, feeling like she was descendi

lobby, she kept her head down. She w

at the curb. Xander jumped out. He

He lunged

up the silver USB drive. I

er voice shaking but loud. "

e drive. He knew exactly what it wa

me in two years,