nan's bulletproof Ma

ghts of Manhattan. The air in the car was thick with the scent of Brennan's cologne. He sat on

t in Tribeca. It was a Michelin three-star estab

ed out into the crisp evening air. Brennan followed, h

gant dining room to a private VIP booth tucked away in the back. H

urved leather booth. Ar

ark, expensive red wine into

is dark eyes locked onto Arnetta. The corporate mask was gone, r

bout yourself, Miss Oliver. What drives a woman to end

w sip to buy time. She needed to steer the conv

er fabricated cover story. "I grew up with nothing. Vanguard is t

ed, a mocking smile touchi

ted. "Specifically, the strategie

w right through the pivot. He leaned fo

ally come from? A cheap suit and fake glasses don't hide the fact th

t. Even as 'Aura', she had never faced a mark who c

e, a violent buzzing shattered

face-up on the table, vibrated agg

he caller ID flashed

line for her 'paper marriage'-a union managed ent

r timing of the call, combined with Brennan's predatory scrutiny, created a lethal frictio

floor with a lou

ked down at the fork, then up at Arnetta's pal

nnan asked, his voice

ed the device from the floor, her thumb-slick with a bead of cold sweat-swiped the wrong directio

me was low, but in the dead quiet of

orted by a digital privacy filter,

woman. Stop dragging this o

ely jabbing at the screen to kill the audio. She slamm

hat followed

arms over his chest. The confusion on his

ing on his lips. "It seems your marri

t months trying to trace the ultimate beneficiary of her marriage co

rofessional persona. She loo

anger, "is a coward. A pathetic, spineless coward who

ly enjoying the show. He picked

een his face. The marriage was a legal maneuver for his family estate, handled by proxies. He treats me like a financial

d, clinical efficiency of the 'nothing' ultimatum-it was a

ppy," Brennan

igging into her palms. "He is a narcissistic sociopath. He t

a low, genuine chuckle. H

irony. "Any man who allows his legal threats to be broadcast in a public restau

, she actually felt a sliver of camaraderie with the tyrant sitting acr

in front of her was the very man who had signed the 'nothi

that he had just critiqued his ow

to a cold, calculating desire for revenge. She was

aid, grabbing her phone and standin