derground VIP garage of The Mark Hotel. The tire

p, cold air of the garage rushed in. Adelia pulled

y, authoritative thud. He didn't look back to see if she was followi

haking legs to move

el pressed his thumb against the glass scanner. It beepe

ity made Adelia's stomach cramp violently. She leaned back, pressing he

eyebrows pulled together. He reached out and pressed

d open at the p

hand-woven carpet instantly a

olute privacy that Axel demanded. He owned the

a set of carved w

lit. Floor-to-ceiling windows displayed

leather sofa. He yanked his tie loose. For a split

vy coat slipped off one of her shoulders. Sh

door to the inner lo

xel had given Kian the access code months ago, a mistake he was now regretting. He was hol

d up and down her ruined dress and Axel's oversized c

loud, pierc

ng finally brought a girl to his sanctu

glass. Kian's smile froze, but the maliciou

ed into the master bathroom. The heavy door clicked shut. Second

marble wet bar. He tur

ds. A sick, twisted idea formed in his brain. He wan

acket. He dumped the white, odorless powder into one of th

to Adelia. Condensation dripped d

ing with fake kindness. "Axel told me to

d Axel's inner circle. She reached out and took the

one swallow. The golden liquid burned down her thro

from her hand and set it on the glass

egan to blur. The bright city lights outside the w

od felt like it was boiling. A strange, terrifying he

were made of wet sand. She collapsed backward,

ely. He grabbed her bare arm. His fingers felt like burnin

limp body toward Axel's private bed

Moonlight spilled across

ttress. She bounced slightly

t. He twisted the lock. The loud click of the dea