time, she didn't shrink back. She met her uncle's gaze, her voice sh

p forward, his bulk casting a shadow over her. "Y

was a blur. He clamped down on Leo's wrist, his grip like a vise.

nch his arm away, but Julian's hand didn't move.

ard and dark as river stones. His voice was low, bu

he said, "is

n the air. Then he added, "And I do

arley. It wasn't a request. It was a statement of fact. A hot blu

ing under Julian's unwavering stare. This was not th

backward, cradling his wrist, his eyes

ing its earlier conviction. He grabbed Leo and practically dr

renaline crashed, leaving her lightheaded. Sh

e her. "You're afrai

lie came automatical

m hard labor, just as she'd expect. But his fingernails were clean, neatly tri

and pulled out a thin plastic card. He

he said. "The PIN

a prenuptial agreement. Our assets are shared. Yo

ncle were just a bluff-a way to assert authority. She never imagined he wo

acket from the back of a cha

r. The corner of his mouth tilted up in a barely-there s

, his voice a low murmur, "I

e. The heat that rushed to her face was so intense it made her

ounter, startling her. Th

, her voice

hed through the speaker. "You married a constru

of the world's judgment. The world that saw a fal

it card sitting on the counter.

n," she said, defending

but for the first tim

d of disapproval. "Just be careful, Car

stranger, didn't seem to want anything she had.

, this wouldn't b