e Grand Plaza was

s he had managed to salvage from the mansion before the bank changed the locks-and it felt too tight. He

ulture hoping for a scrap. He checked his watch. He had five minutes to figure out how

quartet sto

gaze of the hundred or so people in the room. They were all look

descending

in of her bare shoulders. A heavy sapphire necklace caught the light, but it was he

it the thick carpet with a dull thud, spilling expensive sco

as E

had thrown out three years ago. That Elena had been quiet. She wore simpl

wept up, exposing the sharp line of her jaw. Her eyes were co

he CEO of A

air out of his lungs. She hadn't just survived with

think. He

urmurs of the elite. He reached the bottom of the stairs ju

is voice cracked. I

n slowly raised her eyes to his face. There was no anger i

smooth, carrying a hint of a polish

'd been slapped. "I

rom his grip. "Mr. Blackwood. My

umbling out too fast. "About Aethelgard. About th

ed. She tilted her head slightly. "Ask

. Just give me

s a luxury you can no long

e had the easy, relaxed posture of someone who had never worried about money a day in his

d. His voice was low and warm, but his

ena said, offering the man a small sm

ed. He wanted to punch the man, to rip his hand off Elena's back. But h

Julian turned and gestured

the hand of a small boy. He was wearing a tiny, th

pulling away from the n

ze. The ro

ght past Damian, completely ignori

said, reaching

oy into his arms. He settled the child on his

ared at the boy. At the dark h

his head, resting his ch

ht ear, was a small, red,

ark. He had stared at it in

ed the edge of a nearby tabl

was pre

en pregnant when he threw her out. She had given birth alon

e was ashen, his eyes wide and ple

undisguised hatred burned in her eyes. It was there for only a second befor

tween Damian a

carried in the sudden hush of the ballroom. "And as fa

d her bac

steady. "Have security escort Mr. Blac

n dark suits. They appeared instan

as they dragged him backward.

e exit, her heels clicking against the marble, h

*