rising in a silent, glittering stream. To anyone watching, she was the picture of sere

ow. The devastation he had glimpsed in the hallway had been so raw it wa

they a

flushed with victory, a smug little smile playing on her lips as she clung to his bicep.

guilt, or perhaps just annoyance at being caught. He straightened his jacket and

nt. He reached out, his hand aiming for the small of h

e, it di

ty air, hovering awkwardly for a moment before he let it drop. The m

tightened. "What'

sations faltered. H

with false concern. "Giovanna, are you not fe

urniture, then settled on Johnathan. Her eyes were calm, chilling

, her voice quiet but

talk about it at home. Don't make a scene." H

a hard edge that made him blink.

atching now, sensing the crack in the perfect facade of

ely, Giovanna rai

future, caught the light of the chandeliers

drained from his face as he finally, f

No fumbling. Just a smooth, clean motion as she slid it off her fi

ld smell the whiskey on his breath and the

turned it palm up. She placed the ring in the center of his palm

ice, curled his own

oice resonating in the sudden, absolut

p rippled throug

m up in an instant. Disbelief warred with fury in his

voice a venomous whisper. "Do you

d her wrist from his grasp. The look in her eyes was one he had never seen befor

in my life," she said, he

or for Danielle, whose triumphant expres

d her bac

e doors of the ballroom. Every eye in the room followed her. Each step was f

orrified sister, and a man, pale and shaking, clutching