ly, a harsh, grating sou

ed and unlocked the front door. Kinley Martinez burst into the apart

ately swooped down and scooped up Leo, who was sitting on the rug playing

combed his hair," Harper

nley's arms and trying to do

he pulled out a thick, black envelope with gold foil letteri

me Burdette Rich, her stomach instantly tied itself into

er said im

tte's thirtieth birthday. It's a super VIP party at an exclusive

it burned her fingers. "Burdette was Gustav's best friend in

tav just landed in New York yesterday. His schedule is packed with board meetings and press conferences. B

hite. She looked away, her eyes darting nervously around the room. "I'm runni

't hide in this Brooklyn apartment forever just because

perfectly straight row. She thought about the daycare bill sitting on her kitchen counter. It was due

out, her shoulders slump

gged her into the tiny bedroom. Kinley yanked open the small closet

ts off the hangers and tossing them onto the bed. "You dress lik

ed out a handful of rich, dark fabric. She shook it o

ared proudly, "is y

ow, and the back was entirely open. She shook her head frantic

's head, spinning her around to face the cheap full-length mirro

her pale skin look luminous. The exhaustion of the past two years seemed to vanish, replaced

ped her fin

eup bag. Harper closed her eyes, feeling the cold tip of an eyeliner pencil glide acro

an staring back at her had bold, vintage red lips and

in SoHo. The street was lined with luxury sports cars. Massive bouncers in

s clicking on the pavement. She handed the

She pushed the car door open and stepped out. Her long, bare legs caug

r shivered, her skin breaking out in goosebumps. She instinctively wr

ulders back," Kinley whispered fiercely

the heavy, carved wooden doors. A blast of deafening electronic mus

d refracted the light, blinding her for a second. She squinted, her heart hamm

is drink, his face breaking into a massive grin, and started sho

sional smile onto her red lips

er peripheral vision caught somethi

lhouette sittin

blood turn