n settled into the plush velvet booth in the corner. The air wa

er manicured nails digging slightly into Elinor's skin. Her e

voice a harsh whisper. "That bastard doesn't deserve to

touching her lips. "It's done now. Three

t was a hostage situation. Parrish royalty, serving coffee to a tech

nd, even though the nearest table was empty. "They

he world? So he can treat you like trash? Elinor, Ambrose would bury him. Alden would buy

otective older brothers. "But I got myself into this. I'll get

ers dropping. "Fine. But w

he cool glass soothing against her still-tender palm. The sting fro

ile replacing her frown. "There's someone you sho

sed an eye

ian W

o her mouth. A memory flickered-sunlight on a yacht, a boy with dark

ying to sound casual.

r anymore. He runs the whole empire now. He's practically royalty in Eu

looking for a replacement, Jay

I'm saying say hello. He'

l over the table. The air shifted, becomi

bout me, Jaylynn?"

out his bespoke suit perfectly. His dark hair was swept back from a face that was all sharp ang

e spread across his

at. "Killian! Perfect timing. Elinor,

him at the same time. He exuded power, the kind that didn't need to announce itself. "Wis

rrish summer estate in the Hamptons. You were try

ot up her arm. His grip was firm, warm, and entirely too brief

he corrected, his gaze holdin

Killian Wise. The name was whispered in the same breath as old money and global pow

itting at El

dy language relaxed but entirely focused on her. He watched Elinor smi

his was a move. Elinor had walked out of his house hours ago, and she was alr

s. The divorce, the slap, the dramatic exit-it wa

over there. He would drag her away from him. He would remind her tha

ed down on h

ale. "That's Killian Wise. You can't cause

t with Wise in his own club was corporate suicide. But watching Wise lean in c

ching at his sides. He was a spectator in his own life, watching h

ed Killian Wise in that moment. And he had