lise

st stone step of the courtyard

me. His hand twitched toward his hip, his eyes narrow

ly, loud enough to cut straight thro

gory and Eleanor were still standing in the foyer, looking lik

es!" I c

foyer, holding his leather briefcase with both hands. His sharp, neutral presence

s this? Annelise, you got your mon

ession of pure, razor-sharp curiosity. "For the benefit of everyone present, including the representatives

wire-rimmed glasses, and projected his

" Hayes announced, his voice echoing off the high marble ceiling. "She carries no claim to the Roman estate, and conversely, the Roman family carries zero authority, custody, or legal claim over her actions, debts

a matte-black Road Glide let o

le beneath his half-helmet. "The little bird

leanor clutched her throat, letting out a strangled gasp of pure humiliation as two of the mansion's d

ogany railing. Sean's face was dead white, his hands gripping the wood so hard his kn

. You sold me to pay your cartel debts, Gregory. But you forgot one simple rule of

door of the mansion-the key I had carried since I was eight years ol

my voice ice-cold and carrying the weight of a death sentence, "Mr. Hayes will release the manifest rec

lf a step, collapsing into t

ck toward t

ing, savage grin spreading across his ink-stained face. For the first time

ng at me lik

his voice dropping low with something that sounded dang