ballroom. A dull ache throbbed in his neck. He sat up abruptly, the mem

wirling a glass of champagne. She looked as s

words tearing from his throat. "Yo

id, her voice smooth as silk. Sh

ody still feeling disconnected.

et across the polished coffee table between them. "Watc

en showed a hospital hallway, the timestamp in the

ite bandage wrapped loosely around one wris

n't the image of a wom

ng her daughter's cheek. "That scream when you ca

Calvin. He's probably losing his mind right now.

he's completely ruined things with that bitch Amb

ound enchanting. Now it was poison. "He thinks I love him?

art. The color drained from his face, replaced by a sick, profound shame. His ha

shock, devoid of any warmth. "So

r smiling, mocking faces burned into his min

t, his voice hoarse.

imply, a plausible lie to cover an impossible truth. "I had someone ke

shington D.C., a man named K. Stone

e interesting new

he file he was reading. The man exu

ntinued. "The heir, Calvin Henry, publicly broke it off for another

illed for a frac

king his notes, "is named Amberl

up. His eyes were deep and intense, and for the fir

voice a low baritone. "As i

firmed. "The family of the woma

g window, looking out over the lights of the capital. The ci

silence for

, his voice leaving no room for a

y had so far failed to secure, was suddenly connected