hear hi

felt

degrees, or the silence grew teeth. My skin pric

graciously locked me in, staring out at the morning fog choking

t turn

devils knoc

as smooth, dry. "Why would

ned s

lk. Black slacks. Black shirt. A dark jacket tailo

his figure in gold-like even daylight bent arou

d, but I didn'

belong

ook a st

ano

rate.

said, "you w

d-the black diamond

rself," I said. "Throwing ten million at

pped in fr

ween us. His cologne was dark and c

ted hi

a whisper. "You think

up-slow, precise-a

n't f

t bre

red. "I bought

sk cracked-just enough to

he was already bored of the conversation. Leg

il I decide what to d

ot you

eyes. "No. A

m, jaw clenched. "W

curiosity? amusement?-p

rcy," he said. "And I

e O

like a contract

," Lucien said, stil

O

new uses for

t with fear. Something ho

His smile didn't

o you?" I asked

en r

ow

eri

, standing so close I could feel the heat o

t," he sa

afraid

es darkened

're afraid of what

appe

a

ek with a crack, lo

y with the force-but he

even

he sm

gerous curl

e said. "

tight, just firm enough to tilt my h

ai

way my bre

y pulse b

to fight?"

ze dropped

. "I want you

f me like I

back, breat

n't ch

t nee

as not a man who

for it to

und a note on my vanit

leave this house w

ce will be

L

ss. High collar. Open back. M

alle

tore it

thing st

. Not cu

ate

anted a

ed to b

m a perform

or a dozen guests-yet we sat at opposite ends

sipped

che

it

linch unde

I fe

y eyes. Like fingers w

dress well," h

't tha

u'll learn mann

l learn I

back, expressi

hate your father?

ens

k I care?

I want you to know wh

ld me

l. The ambush. Th

th a rival syndicate and le

Lucien said quietly,

own his

ited. I watched. And when he fell..." He lo

dy?" I

s smile

said. "Yo

ower in the marble-tiled bathroom, scrubbing his s

re

didn't need to touc

nside yo

bre

dre

a towel, I found

ace. Platinum.

note: Wear

ly scr

aring at the ceiling, th

't brea

ng me into s

one

ked into the hall wea

ssed in a black wool coat, a silk scarf

ger

dressed for

d at the

n a

d gi

mach t

ng this for

stepped

me," he murmured

ho

en I take you out there,

hat's

gaze he

in