street was a canyon of crumbling red-brick tenements, their facades scarred with rusty fire escape

n. This couldn't be right. The man who had moved with such lethal gra

er car, their gazes a mixture of admiration and insolence. A prickle of unease ran down her sp

ght, the only one for a block. She grabbed her handbag, the envelope

, her phone lit up with a new

ong. I'm freezing your credit cards.

gnorant. He had no idea about her personal fortune, the trust her mother had left

opened her contacts, found his na

ft and silent. A profound se

er 4B. A walk-up with a broken buzzer and a front door that was slightly ajar. The

bled under her hand. By the time she reached the third-floor landing, she was breathing heavily, her

e floor above. Then another, fol

all, broad-shouldered figure emerged from the shadows o

tank top that did little to conceal the powerful muscles of his chest and arms. His hair wa

or a moment, she thought h

mp caught the sharp planes of his face. The strong jaw, the str

him.

herself flatter against the wall, a ridicul

ovements as sharp and sudden as a predator sensing prey. His eyes, dar

airwell crackled with a

uick she might have imagined it. It was immediately

manded, his voice a low growl th

ack hit the brick wall, and the jolt sent a fresh wave of pai

her bandaged calf, and his bro

nce between them in two long strides, his large frame completely blocking the dim lig

ed, his voice softer no

w of defiance she didn't feel. "Your grandmother," she said, her

on the floor above. An elegant, silver-haired wom

authoritative tone from the phone call. "Is that any way to treat our gu

ration crossing his features. The intimidating aura around him seemed t

his grandmother. He d

rs. Without a word of warning, he bent down, slid one powerful arm unde

e. Her cheek was pressed against the warm, solid wall of his chest. The clean, sharp scent of so

and carried her up the last flight of stairs, his steps sure a