woman in nurse's scrubs pushed a covered ca

n she closed the door. "Showtime," she whispered. "I

small device into the main console. It would loop Clara'

slid off the bed. Her legs felt weak. Shaky. She climbed into the hollow base o

it slid open. Cold New York air hit her face. Then they were in Seraphi

atpacking District. A big man with a scar across his eyebrow-Marco

glinted in the dim light. "The man I want you to meet... he's

g. High-class escort. She almost smiled. Too

ulsed through the floor. The air smelled like expensive perfume and secre

he disappeared

n't burn away the images. Braden's face. Chelsea's smi

rolled up to his elbows. Strong forearms. He polished a crystal glass

ri St

ubles for a night. To Clara's exhausted mind, that meant one thing. He'd a

on her. He saw a woman drinking alone. Shattered. Defi

The whiskey had loosened someth

d engagement ring Braden had given her. Cold. Hea

," she said. Her voic

the ring to her face. Something flickered in his eyes. Amusement.

ach. A look of deference on his face. Di

it in his palm. His voice was

. Pulled him down. Her lips met his. Not seduction. Rage. Grief. A

econd, all of it crashed through-Braden's betrayal, the lonely silence, the exha

y. Her fingers tightened on his tie. Knuckles white. She wasn't

whiskey and salt. Tear

his arms like she weighed nothing. Carried her through the parti

h something surprising-tenderness. Firm control. He stripped

mless. The first real sleep she'd had in weeks. Fo

nd fall. He knew nothing about her. But he

The man beside her was still asleep. Shame w

. She placed the diamond ring on the nightstand. Final paym

r click

reached over and picked up the ring. A slow, dangerous smile

buzzed. Ju

Velvet Rope's silent alarm triggered at 3:47 a.m. in the penthouse suite. The club owner tel

Watched the morning light catch its facets. "

ng fifteen minutes ago wearing a dress that costs more than the avera

said n

again. Theodore heard you declined the Denning merger dinner last week. He's not happy. If he

something underneath sharpened. "I didn't dec

ifference, an

t by Theodore. Not by anyone." He closed his fist

ognition against the exteri

thirty

ver asked me to run a background check o

. Crossed to the floor-to-ceiling window. Looked down at the

club with a diamond ring and a desperate kiss

er dangerous. A woman who

ain. Slipped it into his

would inherit was measured in billions. None of it mattered right now. All

at fracture of grief behind her gaze-and why a woman who could afford a