nd in the world. Everleigh stepped inside, the exhaustion of the eve

through the battlefield of the gala. The elegant armor she wore fe

way, you'

ova, met her in the small foyer, taking her coa

away the chill from the terrace. "Thank you, Petr

llway to the smallest bedroom. The door was cracked open, s

ed it op

nd hair was sleeping soundly. He was clutching a well-

e

n. Her

gently brushed a curl from his forehead, her touch feather-light. He stirred, a soft sigh

run, the reason she had to fight, th

room sofa, a guitar resting across her lap and a notebook open beside her. I

ou see the

er mince

h fabric a welcome comfort. She ran a hand over her face, fee

as th

voice. The interception. The terrace. The

thud as she set it aside. She began pacing the smal

how to do. That arrogant prick. We should just leave, Ev.

s frantic movements, a small,

. "No more running. My company is here.

ve hardening with every word.

of her chair, wrapping an arm around her shou

ower overlooking the city, the atm

sky. Brice stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his shirt sleeves rolled up

ogany desk, his expression grim. He placed

is what we

ked up the folder, his movements sha

"Elysian Creative." A branding and digital mark

?-passed through his eyes. She had built this from

ned th

en he

The air in the room seemed t

Everleigh, in a park, her face alight with a genuine, caref

face tilted up to the sun, laugh

e birth to a son a year ago in a private hospital in Santa Barb

he photo. On the boy's bright gre

oximately three months after she... left New York,

crumple under the pressure of his fingers. The silence in the office stretc

w rasp, like gravel scraping

in California was extremely private." Jamey

emotions he couldn't name-rage, jealousy, a profound and

immediately found someone else

sical blow, knocking

The sound echoed in the si

is voice dangerously quiet. "

to burned into his mind. He picked

Jam

ir

NA sample f

for a second. "S

Brice cut him off, his voice like ice. "I wa