eeling from the cold grip of the man who called her Misha, tried t

!" she shrieked,

in tailored suits. One bouncer, a giant with a face

olute, pinning her against the seat as the c

e front, Ian, commande

d with ancient oaks, and skidded to a halt before a palace of glas

ound. Her throat felt like she had swallowed hot coals, d

terror. Is this Kennedy's second act? she wondered. Did he

ug that she immediately stained with alley mud and the copper scent of

er, their little faces twisted with worry.

, Katherine recoiled, her eyes wide

inched as if sh

on, a chilling display of his power, and vanished. He looked down at th

e said, his voice a low coo. "Mommy is... she's not

them from anywhere, Mister." Valentin

tbreaking sadness before they turned and walked up

Valentina's shivering bones. She looked at the man she had come to know as Mr

t him, her fingers curved like claws. She didn't know if sh

r, his hand locking around her waist and pul

le that sent a shiver of pur

, Misha," he murmured, his breat

she cried, even though she knew the police probably wor

y have dyed your hair, you may have changed your clothes, but it's

alentina started, h

d photograph on the mantel and

r. The same high cheekbones, the same defiant

ed hair and a look of cold, predatory el

ling with hot, bitter tears. "But that's not me. Please... I'v

s if searching for a crack in a mask. He

leeves," he com

at?

d her arm, his fingers brushing against

red silk of her sle

wrist, was a tiny, f

ntification mark, as was claimed. It was so tiny, so insignificant. No one knew abo

hes from hers, his eyes burning with a possessive fire. "But with t

Misha. I don't know how I got this tattoo of her, I got it myself... I

ally, letting her go so abruptly she stumbled. "Af

to the sprawling, golden opulence of the room. "I was living

vements fluid and predatory. He poured a glass of amber

utton his charcoal ve

dy honed by discipline, broad shoulders, a hint of golden, tanned skin peeking thr

to her, his gaz

s," he said, his voice echoing wi

her heart racing.

gainst the cold marble of the fireplace. He leaned in, one han

Kingston, the wife I am supposed to hate and the mother of my children. If you can

ar, his voice dropping to a gravelly, intimate wh

still Misha in my eyes... then you stay. In my house,