d exactly fort

auce alley, pour a glass of whatever was open-something Zayden had bought in Napa for six figures and ha

the hell had just h

only had three photos from 2019, then nothing new. I had to really look into it, di

e folder someone ha

the opening night of The Ninth Circle, a members-only club in Downtown LA. It had been a black-tie event with a

o fast and al

187

ready ancient-had his arm slung around the shoulders

t same laugh I'd heard in our kitchen at 2 a.m. when he tho

yd

ding the same heavy crystal glasses and wearing the same look on their face

recognized that strong jawline instantly: Leonidas Costas, Z

whoever owned the came

re k

s suddenly

w exactly who I was whe

now? Why give you the keys to destroy Zayden's empire if they

is eyes and the possessive way his fingers curved around Zayden's sho

ened between th

asn't just business. It was personal. And men like that don't forget personal." She went pale. "Be c

encrypted message, which was ju

room, arrogant beneath the

rol. She thinks I'm her hero. She'll sign anything I put in front of her. The perfect shield. By the

are really under your name..." Her voice

first time, I understood that this

ain. Dexter's name

me more than the audio recording

'll hear it in your voice. You loo

would happen if I ignored the call, but I knew I couldn't a

th, sweet voice. "I was reviewing the

calmly. "Or are you having second th

d strange. Beside me, Marisol held her breath. "L

glass in the background. "Get some sleep. Text me when you

gave out, and I collaps

ked. When I didn't answer, Marisol slammed her

r. He'll keep the children, hand them over to Cassandra, and bury me under those offsh

ill there, but so was the same stubborn instinct that had k

Marisol asked, followin

om

*

ack, the hous

airs, my steps quiet. I skipped my bedroom-and the ho

star nightlight. Their breathing was steady.

ib, reaching through the bars to touch my d

em. Twelve years wasted pretending. But as my tears dried, I realize