The Sound o

n the study w

that made my skin crawl. Julian's hand was still wrapped around my throat,

oice dripping with suspicion. "Or I

I had to play the part of the terrified, broke

e with a practiced tremor. "The storm knocked out the po

earlobe, his breath hot and teasi

c. You can't even handle a simple power out

kly. "But I'm scared. The house i

brother is in the city. I've heard rumors he's making moves on the harbor project.

slid from my throat, trailing down my arm to grip my waist,

" I promised, the lie tas

security feeds. If I see anything out of the ordinary

ood," I

ne wen

und was the heavy rhythm of my breathing and the so

pping back into that eerie, tender re

ng with his chest. He barely budged,

at, my heart racing. "Yo

the playful predator replaced by something far more intense. "He wanted you

lled out the black flash drive,

"The evidence you need. Everything Adrian did to ruin your father. The

It felt impossibly heavy. The key to my father's

t him. "Why are you helping

cup my face. His touch was impossibly gentle

I want his life. I want his house. I want his name

that was nothing short of devastating. It wasn't the soft, reverent k

myself for the way my body responded, for the way my hand

ulled back, we we

ine. "The guards will change shifts soon. But I will be back

ng with that fluid, predatory grace. He paused

u try to run, or if you try to use that flash drive against me... I

e hallway, closing the

n at the flash drive in my hand. I had what I needed. I could

read that it wasn't just Adrian's secrets I was holding. I

d chill running down my spine. He

nock at the study

the household staff. "Are you in there? There's a call for yo