levator doors closed. The moment she stepped out of the lobby

g her weight against it as she gasped for air. The pain

freezing, violent Manhattan rains

ruined gown, plastering it to her skin. Everly didn't try to

Arthur's dead, gray face played on a loop behind her eyeli

w and red. Everly reached an intersection. There was no crosswalk signal. She

ts pierced the wall of rain, h

her eyes shut ag

st wet asphalt filled the air. A massive, bla

me. The right side of the front bumpe

he ground. She flew backward through the air a

away. Blood immediately mixed with the puddles of dirty rainwater. Everly lay flat

a halt. The rear pas

A pair of long legs clad in custom-ta

is leather shoes splashing the water. He radi

dark eyes narrowed, flashing with a mix

ng a high-powered tactical flashlight directly i

rain ran down her pale cheeks. The flashlight blind

-stained evening gown, the messy hair, the pathetic

said, his voice a deep, mocking baritone. "Throwing yourself in f

A jolt of pure, unadulterated fury s

ing hands on the rough asphalt, trying to push

nizing pain in her spine, caused her arms to give out.

llite phone in his breast pocket vibrated.

out and answered it

htly away from Everly. "The merger is compromised?

atinum watch. He had zero patien

sistant standing by

coldly. "Make sure she doesn't c

the street, Guilford turned around and slid back

hut, instantly cutting o

dropped the cash directly onto the wet pavement in front of her face. Then, he tossed a sleek, solid titan

ut," the assistant said flatly. He tu

s spun, splashing a wave of dirty street water over E

n. She stared at the soggy hundred-

the cold rain on her face. She bit down

the heavy titanium business card. She crushed the cold metal into her palm, using t