r apartment door. The click echoed in th

n until it was raw, trying to wash away the smell of cedar and the memory

use, a blazer, and her thick-rimmed glasses. She needed

r bange

rying a first-aid kit and a bag of takeout.

Nina about the drug. About the USB. She le

ater, she screamed. "This is it! We can send him

cle is the District Attorney. He'll bury the charges. I need money,

ng. A Manhat

ated, the

of the President at Blackburn Holdings. Regarding your application for a

ed from her fingers an

eight times. E

she ch

Nine sharp. Bring

ne wen

d I hear that right? Blackburn

do with the drafty window. She had used hi

ella said abruptly, changing the s

lamp in her bathroom, her phone's camera held steady. She took meticulous photos of the bruises on her arms and the scrape o

ssive new acquisition strategy

It was taken from behind as he entered

he back of his head.

he previous night in a password-protected file, detailing every threat from Xander. It w

the night tearing apart her pi

M, an ema

Xander

Payment

of her father's ho

. Tears welled up, hot and stingin

Xander," s

and typed: Crockett B

g. Cold. Machine. Ruthless.

dark computer screen. "I don't care

in the penthouse

leather chair. Art

s confirmed,

earring. It was small, tasteful

nto a drawer and locked it. "Tell security to r

y,

t said. A small, cold smile touched his lip