e curb in front of the towering glass fa

cold tap water and wrapped a strip of torn bedsheet around my palm. The makeshift bandage was hidden inside the sleeve of the dark sweater Kay

wound, but the bleeding had stopped. I tucked my i

ia descended. They swarmed the car li

ra flashes exploded in my face. The intense light se

face. The reporters screamed questions, their v

trides. Without a word, his large hand clamped firmly around my waist. He pulled me flus

dress, his palm felt branding-

a! How does it feel to go from a Schroeder heiress to a convicted fraudste

eted. My fingers curled inward, grabbing a fistful of Kayden's suit jacket, holding on like it was a

ten degrees. He turned his head and pinned the reporter with a sta

he anger burned hotter. I lifted my chin, forcing a

u should focus on your plummeting ratings and the cheap, off-the-rack suit you're wearing instead of harassing peopl

standing there with her mouth hanging open. The e

in his eyes. His grip on my waist tightened, and he used the silence to carve a

te air conditioning

roaching. Her face immediately twisted into a sneer. She cross

as been revoked," she said, he

hands rested heavily on the batons at their belts. They

p back. I st

pped the walkie-talkie straight off the shoulder strap o

g a citizen-even a former Schroeder-is a very, very expensive mistake. You have exactly three seconds to de

torney on retainer. But my voice ca

-the authority drilled into me from twenty-one years of living as a

k as she pulled her master keycard from he

sp, clear note. The stain

losed, instantly cutting off t

yden dropped his hand from my waist. The sudden absence of his heat left a cold pa

against the mirrored wall. "Flaw

y dress, keeping my eyes fixed

y pocket. The bandage was still dry. "It's called profess

chimed agai

ridor. We walked to the massive double doors of Kayden's

le sound of a woman's breathy laughter and

His eyes turned into black, bottomless pits of rage.

pped closer, closing the distance bet

of his shirt. "Ready for war, fiancé?" I whispe

nd. He pulled his arm free, grabbed my hand, intertwining our fingers tigh

s heavy leather boot and kicked the m