own at the ceaseless flow of traffic on Amsterdam Avenue. The city

pensive shoes on polished linoleum. Sean Beaumont rounded t

tel manager was... cooperative. He sends his apologi

ts headline blazing in a garish font: HEBERT HEIR'S LATE-

eo Walsh's blu

the sterile hallway feel ten degrees colder. "Have the legal team issue a t

n it," Sea

d into a ball on her sofa, shaking. Guilt was a physical sickness in her stomach. Sh

done, but she couldn't let

ews desk. Using a voice-altering app, she laid it all out-the name, Wade Tucker; the location, The Plaza Hotel;

e across the room and f

it was an inferno. The name "Ivy Sterling" exploded across Twitter. T

ht meeting, reviewing a portfolio for his family's firm. He saw his s

f from the meeting, his mind racing. He cal

wasn't for his sister's safety, but for the Sterling

stant. "And call our legal team. I wa

pure chaos. A wall of reporters and photographers blocked the entrance, their cameras

ugh the mob. They took the service elevator to the correct floor and fou

oor. Chase swiped his own keycard-he kept o

room was a disaster zone. And there, in the middle of the tangled sheets of the b

flashes wer

standing in the doorway, his face a mask of thunder. She sa

s security. They moved in, throwing blankets over Ivy and h

ded. Before Chase could even get his hysterical sister into the car, Iv

the doctor stepped o

ush the rest of the drug from her system, but it was a dangerousl

nod of thanks and

harp angles of her face. Her breathing was deep and even, thou

ide. He pulled out his own phone and saw the news. He saw Ivy Sterling's tear-streaked, terrified

screen to the sleep

irl hadn't just been a victim. She had been cornered, and she had not only fought her w

deer. She was a viper

slow, dangerous smile touching his

elashes trembled. She w