sformed figure with predatory precision, clean lines, and dangerous curves. Her platinum hair was swept into an elegant updo that emphasized the sharp angles of her new face, while emera

stop the trembling that had nothing to do with th

eck and scarred knuckles wrapped around the steering wheel. When he smiled, which he did entirely too often, she caught glimpses of gold teeth that glinted like warning signs.mn"Firs

are, sweetheart." His laugh was like gravel in a blender. "They all say that. But you got

e exclusive district where old money built monuments to its own power. Familiar territory-she'd grown up in these streets, attended cotill

all Georgian elegance and manicured gardens. Now it looked different somehow-darker, more predatory, like a beautiful face hiding rotten teeth. "Welcome to paradise," the driver said, pullin

t's white-gloved hand with practiced grace. The evening air carried the scent of expensive cigars and

now, instead of her mother's hand in hers and the promise of Christmas cookies, she had Evangeline's warn

needs this money. But as she stepped into the golden light and caught sight of familiar faces from her past life-older now, more corrupt, but unmistakably t

" Alexander. Even his name sent ice through her veins and fire through her blood in equal measure. Three months hadn't been enough to forget the way he'd looked at her across

in expensive clothes conducting business that would never see the light of day. The Gentleman's Club wasn't just a place for

ll country's education budget. The majordomo knocked twice, waited for a response, then opened the doors with th

skin of expensive sins, and lighting that made everything appear touched by fire. It was beautiful and terrifying, like standing inside a beati

uit emphasizing the predatory grace of his movements, his hair slightly longer than was strictly proper, h

sseur, and she felt stripped bare despite the expensive dress covering every inch of her skin. "Miss Cole," he said, and his voice was exa

as interested. The small scar above his temple that was new since their last encounter. The fact that his bow tie was once again deliberately askew-his signature rebellion against perfecti

ulated, controlled, as if he'd choreographed his entire existence down to the smallest detail. "Champagne? Or do you prefer something stronger for courage?" The subtle insult made her spine stiffen. "I don't need courage, Mr. De

cientist observing a particularly interesting specimen, cataloguing her reactions for future use. It was u

ximately four million dollars, and you're using it to t

merely handsome to devastating. "Very good. Though you're high by ha

wer trip of making people think they're in the presence of greatness?" Something flickered in his dark eyes-surprise, appreciation

windows, she could see other rooms filling with masked figures and beautiful women who'd sold their souls for the right price

beneath expensive fabric, and wondered if she was walking t

the

it as both invitat

egun, and this time, Anna