ying a bold, red lipstick that matched her dress. "All of

coffee, froze in the doo

her. She blotted her lips on a tissue, leaving a

ng the futility of argument, murmured, "Yes

ne with eyes that held the chilling wisdom of death. The scarlet dress was a second skin, a suit of armor. She remembered Ashley Wh

e whispered to the

driver could open her door, a dozen camera flashes went off, reporter

tive gasp went through the small crowd. This wasn't the demure Mrs. Carli

ed, a glass of whiskey halfway to his lips. He leaned ag

he asked the

e. "That, my friend, is Eleanor Sinclair. Or as you know her, Mrs. Damia

sive accessory to the Carlisle empire. The woman down there, movin

t attack," Felix chuckled. "He

Carlisle stood near the main staircase, his face a thundercloud. Attached to his arm w

ey murmured, her fingers tightenin

ame Eleanor's behavior as unstable. Damian's jaw tightened. He hat

assistant. "Go and tell h

"Maybe I shouldn't have come. I don't want to

ian said, his voice clipped, though he

lobby, a river of scarlet parting the sea of black and grey tuxedos. Conversations faltered

whirred, capturing th

er gaze was gone. In its place was a cool, unreadable distance that, from the