a Schmi

as I pulled the door shut against the h

voice hoarse. "The David E

eyebrows lifting slightly at the mention of the city's most e

tes of the estate, I paid the fare with the last twenty-doll

it card-the only card David Sports Group had not frozen-ha

transplant money. It would n

and punched in the seven-digit security

ical groan, the iron

ured evergreens on either side draped in glo

er felt like a

use, and a blast of central heating washed over me, thi

reech of laughter echoed from the grand living room, followed

d the marble fo

ter of an antique Persian rug, gripping t

rized remains of a blue-a

ack in a cream-colored cashmere lounge set, swirling a

bratty sneer, and he raised the metal club, p

lled, stomping his foot. "Daddy said you belong

child. My gaze locked

your son,

ier, swinging his heavy winter boot

pain up my leg, leaving a mudd

slow sip of her wine. "You might catch whatever che

on the curved ma

tailored charcoal three-piece suit, his g

ression melting into a picture of fragile distress a

nst his lapel. "Isabella just barged in and star

me, lingering for a fraction of a second

rrowed with

the summit?" His voice was cold, stripped of any warmth. "What are

in as I looked him dead in the eye. "She needs an emergency bone marrow transplant. I ne

out a dry, cond

two fingers of Macallan into a cryst

dred miles through a blizz

Coy let out a glee

pockets. "My algorithms generated over twenty million dollars in licensing revenue for your

nd stepped toward me, his towering frame ca

said, his voice dropping into a cruel murmur. "You want half a million dollars? Fine. Get down on your knees, beg Kris

he room seem

wave of profound na

who stole my preliminary research d

est, her eyes welling with well-rehearsed tears as

my credibility again... I worke

le side table with a sharp crack. "I am sick of your pathetic, insecure jealousy,

s rigid, self-

uthful illusion I had once harbored for

cream. I d

arp calm settled

tice. Since you choose to ignore my warning, and don' t blame

and walked toward th

ld

rnous foyer just as my fingers touched

st the herringbone parquet as h