bare feet in the rearview mirror, his ex

ian," Gia said, her

-a delicate Cartier bracelet, a gift from her grandmothe

, his eyes widening. He nodded, and the cab l

at the reception desk. She didn't slow down, her bare feet slapping against the sterile linole

final corner a

achines that had beeped a steady rhythm

he arm of a passing doctor, her grip frantic

sympathy. "I'm so sorry. We did everything

r dress. The air in her lungs turned to glass, each breath a sharp, cutting pain. The drug, the assault,

igh heels on the floor

by Hailey and a man in a sharkskin suit holding a br

down onto Gia's lap. "Sign these. You're gi

r Gia. "Grandma heard about your little escapade last night. T

lit match to a ba

to her feet and swung, her open palm connecting with Hai

uards-materialized and slammed Gia against the wall.

cold as a morgue slab, "you won't get a penny

documents on the floor, then looked up at Brenda's smug face. She leaned f

," she

ecurity camera on the ceiling. Brenda's eyes narrowed.

. She watched them walk away, taking everything. They even had a box containi

gh a small glass window as they wheeled her grandmother away, a final, heartbreaking glimpse. In that momen

an Carlisle's executive assistant, used a master keycard to over

of sex and the sharper tang of blood. Julian was sprawled on the bed, unconscious,

m. As they worked, Connor scanned the room. He found it half-hidden u

ain. His lips moved, forming a single,

rom the hallway. The response was a blow: a power surge during last night's th

city gave way to the steel expanse of the Brooklyn Bridge. The wind whipped off the river, cutting through her

something small and hard in the pocket of her torn dress.

r heart. She had to get out of New York. She had to live. Revenge was

nst her ear. She dialed a number from memory, a number

espite everything. "I need a favor. I need a lette

, but he heard the steel in her voice. He agreed to wire

s eyes snapped open. His first, instinctual movement was t

he back of his hand, ig

growl. "Lock down every airport, every por

ssive short-sell attack on our tech holdings. The board i

her scent on the sheets, a faint trace of fear and something floral

tly," he snarled

urse and, with a few decisive snips, severed her long, dark hair. The strands fell around

he gate, she paused and looked back through the massive

all and walked down the jet bri