yl

rowing cold on the table in front of her. Her heels from the gala were still abandoned by

ld think ab

he said her name. She'd seen it in the way his should

idn't know. That maybe the sins of her father wouldn

wells did

yla waked up and walked to the window, placing her arms on her chest as she gazed out at the bu

f motion reminded her how

luded. Giving kids a second chance, a voice, a purpose... that was

far she climbed, there were still doors she w

hone

heart suddenly

Maybe. It's not exact

to her present. Her father's legacy was a shadow she had spent most of her life running from. One careless whisper

t

was a new stillness in him, as if he'd catalog

with... people. But if you're up for pretending this eve

smiled a bit. "Is that you

ing lik

the door. Then ba

ian Blackwell

ballroom. "There's a balcony thro

only a second

below them like stars

link of glasses behind the doors. Small breeze touched her skin. Adrian stood behind her, hands in his pockets, watching ou

why ar

. Family duty. All

m fully. "And are you a

eel like I was born in a cage with soft walls." That was

"I know a thing or two about cages.

really looked this tim

your be

o say.A part of her wanted to just come out and be honest. Abo

said, "maybe I should just walk out from this." "So why don't you?" h

that.And that scared

't sure who'd ge

kwell gala photos. You looke

s the tall glass of trou

ping back a lie

ala. Nothing new. That

moment before hitting send. Eden

he man who stood beside her on the balcony, confessing he felt trapped in a world he didn't choose.

n of him might

to focus on work. She had an outreach campaign to launch next week, tw

into her ema

ew me

l.adrian@black

About l

roat w

open

La

ings. But I haven't been able to stop thinking about y

d it seems like there are things you aren't quite

et me see you again. Somewhe

Ad

ree times, her heart thud

way from ou

etending this wasn't dangerous. That her trut

-that Adrian might turn on her if he fo

e what

d if she let

h from midtown glitz to avoid cameras, but just expensive enough to suggest he came here ofte

k coffee untouched, fingers drumming a slow rhythm on

the moment

sto

, quieter than

omething in his eyes-something so

y s

een us, not in a ba

'd show up, he sai

ach out.He grinned a little. Look

, then asked, "Why me, Adri

you don't," she qui

orward. "Th

ooked

dn't

, "I hear this voice in my he

ckless. Dangerous. Th

hing sharp and honest ris

soft chatter slowly faded. Layla breathed deeply, feeling a little nervous. "Adrian,

anced

ach. "What's going on?" Adrian met her gaze, and she c

s message.

er about Thomas Hart. Or better yet, a

went

nds tr

wly lowere

t, she saw it-the wall going up behi

voice rough. "Wh

ew, just l

e next would

them f