f fleeing a crime scene, a thick, expensive

ith me. No argum

m the cash register. "Good

unt scored an invitation to the society dinner party of the year at the Walker Grand H

e directly above

lk

their frantic internet searches fo

el?" Emily repeated,

s," Chloe said, her eyes flashing with excit

it's a disastr

to come straight to the bookstore. Come with me, Em.

unpredictable travel and a corporate meeting without explainin

tween caution and a burn

. "If this turns into

ea

chandeliers reflected across polished marble, while guests in designer gowns and sha

elegant navy dress. Next to her, Chloe's

loe murmured, linking arms. "Smil

ncapable of look

at it. You just

around her plate, her appetite vanishing under a wave of nervous tension.

she sa

. Two massive men stood a few disciplined paces behind him, scanning the room with the alert vigilance of professional bodyguards. Wealthy

opped dead half

d phone calls, then stood awkwardly fumbling with an onion in her kitchen. Yet

red at the table directly behi

oice breathed in awe. "The

ly set her

er breath catching. "Emily

es

ldn't track down online. Rumor says he's

ting or putting on a performance; he simply belonged at th

ily estate, and the calculated omissions he had used when describing his livelihood. The

air," Emily whispere

ard the restrooms. She hadn't reached the door whe

nd, her pulse spik

in a dark, tailored suit, his expression a strange

Emily

ammered. "W

the dining hall. "I know your husband. I know what he's trying so despe

ed grip on her clutch. "I have n

ally married to Ethan Walker, sole heir to the Walker f

orce the words

me this?" she demande

king to strike at him will try to reach him through you. They won't need

aught. "Are you

he target on your back before someon

jacket pocket. It bore no name or logo, onl

self in danger, call t

accepted the card, the paper u

you?" she

he crowd, leaving her stranded in the hallway with a mysterious n

color. Chloe looked up instantly. "Em, what happe

the card deep into her clutch. "

rrowed with suspicion. They slipped out of

a harmless evening of amateur sleuthing; she left knowing the man sharing

ified her. But Ethan's calculate

oor, a thin line of yellow light gl

e white card and saved its number in her contacts. Then she mar

p. We need to

n the threshold, still in his immaculate suit with h

it?" he

d out the plain white card

yes dropped to the blank paper, his expr

?" he bit out, his voic

tonight. He told me exactly w

so hard a muscle fe

d, his tone turning to ice. "S

mn it, lis

ic

ght in her face, cutting off h