ella

warm, lethal weight against my frantically beating pulse. The fire from the guest wing roa

utting effortlessly through the crackle of the flames and the howling wind. It wasn'

n steady despite the crushing proximity of his body. "And then they were going to execute me

narrowing. He didn't release me, but the subtle

ightly into the rough stone behind me to anchor myself, "right

nd and took a half-step back, the leather of his holster creaking faintly. He crossed his arms

main entrance of the estate, visible through the snow-dusted hedges. The wail

d, pointing towar

lla Marshall. Her pristine, untouchable image was entirely shattered. A woman in a lavish mink coat wa

shalls and the Caseys. Hoy Casey was caught in that blast on Marshall territory, and his wife is demanding blood. This isn't a simp

expression remained impassive, but I could see the dark calculation in

ss key. The metal was freezing against my palm. I held it up between us. T

pping to a lethal whisper. "You don't just cut d

k to me, his gaze droppin

at the First National Bank. Inside is a list of every single police officer, judge, and politician Alistair has

only sound between us was the roa

le touch his lips-a dark, predatory curve that was infinitely more terrifying than his

he took the brass key. He didn't look at the metal; his obsidian eyes rem