le. Chloe took an involuntary step back, her eyes glued to the bloody handkerchief. The logical part of her brain

ce. A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched the cor

his voice a smooth, deep baritone. He lifted hi

instantly deflated her panic. Of course. A broken w

she stammered, her v

a side table and poured a measure of amber liquid into a glass with

uor in his glass. His dark

d, his tone as casual as if he

ammed into her, and the floor seemed to tilt beneath her feet. "What? N

e sound of his private physician making a last, futile effort with a defibr

ed into the inner pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out a sheaf of papers, tossing it onto the coff

ficate of Death & La

f any emotion, "you are the sole beneficiary of his personal trust. It includes

llion.

e best treatments, a lifetime of security. An involuntary gasp of pure, unadulterated joy es

eyes-disappointment? Contempt? -and sh

ob erupted from her throat, and she covered her mouth with her hand, her body shaki

g her face in a velvet cushi

eeked at the document, try

ion unreadable. He walked over and placed a

amusement in his voice. "Grief is exhau

"Who are you?" she asked again, her voice thick with

name is Nix," he said softly. "I was Mr. Roman's private security

of the puzzle clicked into

ustion. "The money," she whispered, as if the thought had

e trust is currently frozen, pending the official reading of the will

t up, her eyes sharp with genuine

ce hang in the air. He picked up the legal

aircase, he paused an

warning. "In this house, it would be wise for you to ma

tared at the empty coffee table, her mind reeling. She was a widow. She was about