a's

ing an oxygen mask over Lily's face and adm

zed, the heavy metal doors of the VIP floo

zen tall, armed security guards in black su

e sight of Julian Sterling surrounded by armed men would have made me

to

nd his silver eyes wide with an intense m

and unsteady as he gestured to his lead guard. "We are doing an immediate

d," I cut him off, my voice dropping to a lo

I took two deliberate steps forward, closing the distance be

traight into the silver eyes t

out a hand as if to grasp my shoulder. "You hid m

one slicing through his words. I didn't raise my

you had never met me, and then you had your guards throw me into a freezing storm without

The color drained from his skin completely, leaving him

choked out, his chest heaving as he re

a hesitant step backward. "You proved back then that your money and your paranoia mean more to you than any human l

authority back over his face, though his eyes were visibly shaking wit

rrowing into two sharp daggers of ice. "Just try tak

aring at me in c

he founder and sole owner of Vale & Co. I employ three hundred people in this city alone. The global media loves me. If you use your wealth, your l

in his throat. He pau

a pregnant woman into the rain," I continued, pressing the tip o

g your precious corporate brand, your family legacy, and your stock prices through the deepest, dirtiest mud

rmed guards stood completely still, wide-eyed, wa

entirely paralyzed, staring down at me as

dead. In her place stood a mother built out of steel, survi

voice completely broken, stripped

I ordered, my eyes never leaving his f

nd waved his guards away. The heavy metal doors click

word, gently lifting Lily into my arms