d smelled of exhaust fumes and damp cement. The vast, dimly lit space was filled with rows of high-en

of her blouse doing little to ward off the chi

against her cherry-red Porsch

r voice sounding small

about to send a search party." She held up a small, elegant gift bag. "

weak smile. "You

arrowed, her gaze once again zeroing in on Elaine's neck. She reached

inger right below Elaine's ear, where a faint purple mark peeked out from under the h

r heart started to pound a franti

er curiosity now fully ignited. "Who is he? Seri

motionless in the shadows. He had been on his way to the executive elevator when he

tiffen. He saw the panic i

rted out, the lie so clumsy it was painful. "You k

, unimpressed. "A TV s

oud, echoing slightly in the garage. "I burned myself.

the air, patheti

low sound escaped his lips. It wasn't quite a laugh. It

e echoing silence of th

women

Courtney whispere

tepped out from

tty concrete was deliberate, measured, each footst

, his tall frame and dark suit making him

stantly straightening up, her demeanor shifting from sassy b

couldn't move. She couldn't breathe. She could only stare at the man walking towards them, the

with pinpoint accuracy, on Elaine. His eyes were dark, unreadable

he asked, his voice a low, smooth baritone that

orward to hide her face. She prayed for the co

" Courtney mumbled,

less than a foot away from her. She could smell the faint, clean scent

ze deliberately dropping to t

rons, Ms. Pierce," he said, his voice dang

he double meaning, the veiled threat, the sheer, unadulterated p

utter humiliation. Her legs felt weak, like they might give out at any moment. She dug her

r a response. He

ce. "Don't distract my employees, Court

the private elevator, his back straight, his stride

ors slid shut,

been cut. She sagged against the side of C

ed, clutching her chest. "He's in a mood today. I

was soaked in a cold sweat. The game w

ragon. And he knew

-