hing contrast to the storm raging in her head. He closed the black dossier and handed it to her. "Take

weight feeling like an an

ty. Hayes sat quietly reading his tablet, giving Elliana

some absurd, pseudo-scientific tarot reading. It was in

mocking smirk, his absolute, arrogant certainty that she would crawl back to him because she had nothi

submission. To fight them, she couldn't just be brave; she needed a weapon. She needed an absolute,

of the Marshall family. Hayes's wor

, clutching the file to her chest, and murmured a thank you to the driver.

o large men in cheap, ill-fitting black suits were standing directly in

ng forward to block her path. "Your mother sent us. She'd like you to come

ively diving into her purse for her phone. She knew her mother wa

hone rang. The scre

ice tight but defian

f and embarrassing us! Preston is here, and he is graciously willing to forgive you if you come back and beg o

Preston's smooth, arrogant voice murmu

he cheating fiancé and the vampire mother had formed an unho

ispered, her voice trembling with a ne

then back at the elevator. There was no going

ger thug lunged forward, his mea

ccably tailored suits as Hayes's driver, stepped into the narrow hallway. They moved with silent,

enough to make the large man gasp and drop to his knees in pain. The other Marshall gua

back into the elevator, pressed the lobby button, and descended. The Marshall men flanked her s

d outside. The Bentley hadn't left. It was still idling a

g open. Mr. Hayes was still sitting i

" Hayes said, his calm eyes studying her pale face. "

Of course-Hayes had been waiting, watching through his men on the ground

st time in her life, she felt the intoxicating weight of true power. This

nly solid, safe place in the entire world. Her mother and Preston had just burned her last bridge to

d her chin to meet Hayes's gaze. The fear in her green eyes

, her voice clear and steady in the quiet cabin. "I accep