ora

ffice at City Hall was

nds were the hum of a fluorescent light and the quiet

empty space between us. He stared straight ahead, his prof

y, on each line with a steady hand

nsion rolling off him in waves, a palpable force in the small room. He looked like he wanted to

one copy toward me, and one toward Cade. "Mr. Sterling, Ms. Montgomery. According to the law

ked up the certi

t was a tearing sensation deep in my soul, a vital

ed a glance. His face was pale, a sheen of sweat on his fo

eakness. I locked the agony down, deep inside, and stood

d. Then I turned and walked out of

the wide stone steps, taking a deep breath of fresh air. I

saw me and immediately straightened, his face et

feel the echo of a

shook m

ind me. He stopped, his eyes locking on me. And I

hands. The official, stamped pr

ore it

paper was shockingly lo

hen eight. I kept tearing until all that was left

m. The pieces scattered, dancing away like

ly accepted. It was a chain I ha

e steps, closing the distance between us in seconds. He grabbed my shoulder

hone began to ring, a f

the Bentley, rushed over. "Alp

usion. He let go of me to snatch the phone from Fin

ce wen

?" he demanded, his voice

rigid with tension. He shot me a look of pure l

l. He tossed the phone back to Finn and spr

he curb, leaving me standing in a

tiness where the bond used t

erfectly steady. I scrolled to a numb

answered. "Get the team ready. The

e sharpest publicist in the country, let out a lo