in the rain, transforming into a watercolor where neon and gray intertwined. She clumsily fumbled for her phone

yanked his tie hard, the silk tightening so tightly he could barely breathe. He poured him

ofa vibrated. It's Preston-

lled with urgent nervousness. "I

ently swirled his glass. "I

lost control and surged up from a depth of over a hundred feet. It was already a blessing that we managed to bring her alive to the surface. She suffered from seve

one, her pale, haggard face. A cold and unfamiliar fear clung to his heart like

apped her arms around his waist. Her tou

ll had the strength to scream and resist, but that was just an exagge

t. He exhaled heavily. Of course-this is yet another game of

r to breathe. She bent over, panting, one hand pressing against her ribs. The handle of the suitcase slipped from his hand and plunge

glass, Julian saw her stu

black Uber-it was a custom bulletproof Maybach, its black paint swallowing the

arrowed

oving swiftly and efficiently, showing traces of military training. They op

shoe probably surpassed Hadley's entire outfit. A man stepped out of the car. H

his cashmere coat-a dark, heavy garment exuding the scent of money a

formed at the corner of her lips, then blown away by the wind, but Julian saw t

Global Financial Summit-the head of the Beaumont family, a dynasty that

the rain toward the window of the penthouse, briefly mee

gently guided her into the warm space inside the car. A bodygua

itorial rage surged in his heart-a feeling of being violated, as if another

is palm against the t

ng." The taillights carved two red marks in the night, then dr

" The assistant shouted as he answered. "Pull up the surveillance fo

ng a newly brewed glass. "Jules, wha

wine splashed onto her hand. "Go home, E

ce of fear flashing in

ho

rabbed her hand

ded from Hadley's bones. A man carrying a medical kit

eaming cup of tea, his

in his eyes. "From now on, no one should ever harm the