lass windows of the SoHo cafe, illumina

brew in front of her. She hadn't slept. The drug had finally worn o

re's table, took one look at the dark, bruised circles under Eleanore's eyes and her bloodless lips, and immediatel

he ceramic mug, the burning heat the only thing

lle demanded, her chest heaving. "I called you twenty times! I was ten secon

zipped her purse, pulled out a folded pie

he frowned, thinking it was a joke, until her eyes hit

table and stood up, her chair scraping loudly ag

houted, leaning over the table. "You married

ree months. He gets to humiliate Johan in a boardroom, a

t. Her thumbs flew across the screen. S

he Machine That Dismantles Empires. The photo showed Alexander walking out of

s a calculator in his chest. If he's using you to get to Johan, what happens when he's done? You th

en, unbidden, the memory of last night flashed in her mind-Alexander standing in th

ng is better than Johan. Johan was going to lock

d it hard. "Fine. But we are getting your stuff out of your apartment right no

edge of the Upper East Side. It was a cramped, fourth-floor walk-up s

ely pulled her suitcase from under the b

inute later, she walked out holding a small, framed ph

han was laughing, his eyes bright and clear, completely

d at Eleano

atched the photo from Halle's hand, ripped the frame apart, and tore the ph

" Eleanore said coldly. "The ma

hythmic knocks pounded a

. The color drained from

hind the door. Eleanore took a shaky breath, tip

sn't

suit. L. Thorne. Behind him

a shaky breath an

black keycard with an embedded gold chip

of your marriage license on your person at all times, for your protection. He also requests that you relo

ts flaring. "I can stay here. I have a deadbolt.

side and pointed toward the small window at th

tated flatly. "They belong to the Conway family. They have been wat

d peered through the blinds. Down on the street, two men in leather jacke

oke out on the

r suitcase. She hugged Halle goodbye, promisin

uards formed a tight wall around her, complet

r pulled away, she looked out the tinted window. Her safe