f the penthouse Phone in

s 6 hour

o run downstairs and throw herself between him and th

on her skin Ava hated it Claire

s closet too big Smelled like him,She wrapped his jacket around her shoulders agai

ped: I

will handle Cla

s face Smiling In a prison visitation room

ed in ,Choose Et

haos, Reporters,L

rvice entrance,No

e gave the address,Private pr

Declined Text came: Lia.

d not a

table 12 board members Lawyers ,Cameras were n

to emotional instability and damage to co

aid,Voice quiet,deadly. "Bec

ny," a board member snapped "Becau

when I founded true real I have been choosing her since

er? You think money matters? My sister died because I thou

s ear, "Sir, her phone's off Last ping wa

ll. "Meeting's

u ca

et "If the board wants a CEO who chooses money over

. Behind him, the chairman shoute

ne was already at his ear. "T

isitor for Claire Moreau."Guard looked at her. at the hoodie,At Ethan's jacket."Vis

But her smile was the same Sharp, Poison."Look at you," Claire

e phone at first Just s

fe for now Unless you

he phone "What

His obsession For two years he mourned Ava. For two years I was his

nt stiff "Ava's de

han chose a girl over family.Just like he is ch

s Full custody of Lia Mason. Temporary guardian I walk out of here

t. "You want me

atment You get money quiet life , He gets to

the paper,Then

es narrowed.

ng but steady. "Do not sign anything when someone has a knife

glass. "You stupid girl! He does

r Claire's. "Then let him love a ghost. I lov

onstop as she left. Ethan. 22 miss

rough. Panicked.

."Silence then a sound like he exhaled for the fi

I do not care if you are wearing

ing against the c

screeched to a stop, s

he caught her. Both hands on her face

, Not angry desperat

d,tears hot on her f

his chest. Like he could fuse her bones

her skin "I am sorry I made you c

n his shirt. "You wer

lled back just enough to see her eyes " From now

ed,Could

eyes "Claire sai

said then he kissed her forehead hard. "You shine, Lia.

at. "Mr. Rivers, we need to leave.

p Carried her to the car,She curled in

shut, Silence,Jus

ile he gave orders to Thompson. "Double security at

e," Ethan s

e d

ed "More than the board More

is face."I sc

id. "Being soft,Being scared, bu

e a breath from

e

and came up to her jaw. Thumb tracing her

it, Her hands s

d past. nothing mattered except this his mouth on hers. Hi

breathing hard, Ethan reste

g alone," he mur

se," Lia

e then her mouth Quic

Not because of a contract,becau

ied "And yo

an s

slowed,

en opened her door but

doors closed

lo

s hands on her waist his eyes s

dded. "

re's in a cell she can not call from until your mom's w

s flattened on his chest "The

r name like a ques

issing him first this time Because she was

th never leaving hers his hands mapping her

hed against her

whispered. "I am

s all he

nd sliding down her spine, pu

ear outside did not exist,the board

him,On

was something he had been waiting for

llarbone too her shoulder

Like saying her na

r fingers dug into his s

y,Please do

ard al

shed her cheek. "I am here," he whispere

ngry but careful like he was learning her Like he had

nly the glow of Paris

nd her waist his face buried

minute

We have a problem. Claire did not act alone , Your mother

on his feet

Sheets to her

,Face blank but his

"Not Claire. Someone else,Someone

t up,Unknown numb

resse

d, then a door opening. A woman stepp

ire, Not

A

e,Same sm

s me? Bring Lia to the old bridge Lyon Tonight.

eo e

creen,like she had b

ey buried Her Et

e phone,It shatte

ot her," he said,but his v

ece of the broken phone In the reflection sh

hadow,Watchi

around,R

re her phone had been, was

rom her hair th