arm buzz of good wine and even better company. The specter of Damian an

re," Ava said, a hint of dark humor in her voice. It was

him time. The night is young." He grew serious again.

ant to tell him how flimsy the door lock was, how the w

sitting empty. Top-of-the-line security, a doorman who's ex

art that was exhausted and scared, wanted to say yes. To let

he co

, the rich chocolate lav

ut gentle. "But I have to do this myself. I just escaped one gilded cag

wn, without a man's name or a man's protect

a look of deep respect in his eyes. "I understa

herself telling him things she had never told anyone. Not just the loneliness, but the sheer, mind-numbing boredom. The end

ice low. "For a while, I really did. I thought maybe, if I was th

rated it all-the adoption from St. Jude's, the swift engagement, the quiet wedding. At the time, Ava had been too stunned to question it. A home. A name. A husband who seemed carved from marble but was, at least on p

Ismael prompted g

rming in her throat.

simply looked at her, his dark eyes holding hers, and in them she saw not pity, but a deep, unwavering understanding

y, his voice low and certain. "

ing a small, watery smile. The past wa

d shut, cutting off the restaurant's ambient noise.

hrill with fury and humiliation. "You just left

his hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. He wasn't thinking ab

... her eyes were the worst part. They had been clear, defia

bastard, with his arm draped ov

Risk As

udying? The quiet, docile woman he kept at his estate had been living a secret life

He threw a black credit card at the maître d', snarling, "Cove

d to get back to his office. To his dom

silence of the empty office did little to soothe him. The city lights glittere

he visitors' sofa in

Carli

r looked haggard, his usual impecc

ng here, Jennings

s voice urgent. "I have been waiting for th

n, gone? She's at dinner with

, she has moved out of the estate. She took everything.

for the night. Gone for good. The scene at the restaurant cli

his now?" he roared, his voice

discovered it. But Miss Sterling took the call. She said you were in a

ain, and Isabelle hurried out, her face a mask of

when she s

look of pure, murderous rage. He finally understood. He had been managed. Handled. Kep

arefully controlled, w

ices scurried out from a side office, holding

courier this evening. It was marked for your eyes only, but with the merger lockd

seeing the look

. Carlisle, sir. A leg

n's trembling hand. He recognized her ha

fingers clumsy with rage. He

, in stark, black letters, were the wor

ettlement