d wind whipped the edges of his unbuttoned suit jacket. He

the block. He wanted to grab her arm and demand to

he concrete. Montgomery men did not

nt entrance. He stepped into the bac

ordered his driver. His

Manhattan. It delivered Julian to an exclusive, members-only

e walked into the dimly lit, mahogany-paneled cigar room. The

fa. He swirled a glass of dark cognac and laugh

ally shuffled a deck of custom, gold-foil playing car

is expression was completely closed off. A waiter materialized in

od. "Jesus, Jules. You look like a man who

his glass. His mind was stuck on a loop, replaying the way Kin

es. "I saw Kandi Durham earlier today. She was compla

ure annoyance. "Kandi is a childho

has it your mother is pushing hard for the Montgomery-Durha

against the crystal. The suffocating reality of arranged alliances and

ising tension. "So, what kept you busy dow

a fraction of a second, a

arrowed instantly. He

Julian claimed dismissively. He kept Kinsley's name out

he working class. Always desperate. Let me guess, some nobody employe

chest. He remembered Kinsley's worn but immaculate coat.

ust fund beneficiary, Alton," Julian stated cold

mock surrender. He was completely confused by Julian's

ntuition screamed that Julian was hiding s

rd probed further, his voice quiet. "Spec

t Richard with a lethal intensity.

spoke the lie smoothly, attempting to convince Richard, and more desperately, himself. But her name felt like a jagged thorn lodged deep in his throat,

e lie. But his eyes dropped to the white-knuc

irls from public schools are always looking for

eaked in protest. He couldn't stomach the conversatio

. The burn of the alcohol masked the su

Julian excused himself, his ton

g his friends exchang

one from his pocket. He discreetly texted his assistant: Look

by a dark, obsessive need. He needed to corner Kinsley. He needed to ex