n dimmed to a soft, warm glow. The faint, s

hrobbing pain radiated from her forehead, maki

ary was sitting in a single armchair near

er face. There was a heavy, intense emotion

stood up and walked to the edge of the bed, his large

urple bruises on her neck. But he stopped, his hand hove

u feel?" he asked, using his usual

board, wincing slightly. "Thank you for

ened almost imperceptibly, a subtle physical

vorce agreement you drafted is incredibly stupi

his money," Er

and as your legal guardian, I will not sit

with gold foil. He held it out to her. "This is the activation pa

envelope but didn

tonight. Go to Europe. Start over anywhere you want. I will use my firm to

guarantee her a life of a

Her eyes were startlingly c

has given me," Erna said, her voice steady. "But I

erry family taught me one thing. Power and wealth that

d. I am staying in New York. I'm going back to Columbia to

ion crossed his eyes, immediately swallowed by a dark, re

orm brewing in his eyes before he forcefully swallowed it down, his r

ary warned, his voice turning icy. "An orphan w

een the filthiest parts, I know I ha

ing silence for a full minute

o his jacket. "Fine. But you will accept the securi

solute limit of his compr

is shadow fell o

long moment. "Call me

he door. When Cary pulled

the bodyguards, was Jax Koda-one of Manhattan's notorious pla