sol

a l

o figure out w

time wanting to avenge th

broken and trembling as I

ony, every breath a remind

my

ights cut throu

eched to a h

r opened. A figure emerge

the st

ice commanded,

autho

hrough the r

e was tall, his dark coat

face was shadowed, but h

nding, and utte

ce cracked, bar

st

n, his gloved h

tleness. His eyes, sharp

t," he murmured, a ghost

u will be if

ior was warm, t

k into them. My body ach

ke sense of wha

I rasped, my

ing an

t answer imme

hands gripping the steeri

he cold intens

y spoke, his v

lk over steel.

shiver down my

s the man who ruled the un

ross borders and bled int

save me?" I a

above a

d into a smirk

road. "Maybe I'm feeli

ve him. Men li

ng withou

a stop in fron

ior gleaming under the ra

hand out

, his tone leav

ume

y instincts sc

My family was gone, my ho

arred, broken sh

k his

his touch was

ide. The elevator ride was

d feel his eyes on me, s

to meet

s opened, I w

loor-to-ceiling windows of

bathed in soft, golden lig

aging o

" I demanded, f

ed off his co

o his broad shoulders. He

"You looked like

e," I snapped,

the venom

, replaced by s

rything," he said, his vo

t. No family, no

his words, the

rough me l

inued, steppin

g. A chance to re

e, my chest h

ons in check. "And what

ed out, brushi

uch was electric, sending

he said simply.

erly, the soun

om. "You want me t

ever you like

you powerful, Marisol. I

at was stole

red at his word

cating, a fire ign

atch?" I aske

y

in, his face i

st my skin, his scent int

e a caress, "is that yo

lec

to his eyes, I

e. This was a man who coul

uld crush me withou

wasn't

said, my voice

raging i

rned, but ther

now, something dangerous.

u start t

eave, but paus

shoulder. "One mor

an eyebro

ie to me," he

if you do, I'll know. And

ed shut behind

of the penthouse. My heart

oursing through me.I had m

was no tur

ad I truly

anipulator, o

rs

truly see in m

line, or a pawn he c

plush sofa, my

on bore down on me. My min

had he chosen me, of all

how far would

at the storm b

skyline, casting jagged

felt the full force of m

sh, and the man who had sa

ked in danger

ets was h

ifyingly, wha

to keep

hed into fists

t back the tears threate

when I had just taken my

under

rust Rafa

igned my soul o

troy me i

ed on, but in

ween fear, desire, and t

gea