hard against the Blackwood Estate's endless windows. Ivy lay awake, tangled in silk sheets that sme

as impo

the two-way mirror. The longer she stayed in this place, the more it felt less like

ded barefoot down the hallway. The storm outside growled, throwing shado

y called t

olden handle and

low and alive in the hearth. Then came the

came Luci

y don't li

ir, sleeves rolled up, collar open. A glass

thering to mask her irritation. "Thi

g in her disheveled hair, the robe cinched

used to cold

she asked, moving to the fire. "Why

ecause honesty is expensive. And I

him. "What happene

hung in the

ned early what it meant to survive. That love is a lie people t

my price?"

the storm crashing behind the windows. "You're not

ed, but no

he fire throwing golden light

hat," she murmured, "b

tracing the line of h

n prove it. Open up. Let me in. Because r

That's the point. This is

s when the game

dn't

ned down-and ki

wasn't like th

w. Controlle

ritory inch by inch. Her hands found his chest, fisting the fabric of his s

under the silk. Heat pulsed between

rd, she whispered, "Why do I feel like y

er like she'd

se sh

er, Ivy," he said, voice

when sh

re skele

st in

Lucien

table alone. The rain had slowed to a dri

led her

. Twice. The

sn't li

ried

th

wisted. Somet

ith a tray of fr

Blackwood is?" Ivy aske

at his private tower downtown.

o

en his

until the

ys and her courage-a

and ambition. Security didn't even blink when she arrived-th

't mean they

e top floor

doors opened

saw made her

surrounded by files. But what froz

otog

h

. "What the h

ok surprised

ly. "You shoul

" she said

d the ph

ago. In Boston. She didn't

r voice cracked. "How long

didn't

ad to know everything. Who you were. What weaknes

she de

ou, Ivy," he said, stepping closer. "A

"So you were

he said coldly. "And pr

p him again. But she w

my entire life,

r her, but sh

" she said. "I ca

n't st

d one thing

with me than

at the walls. The storm outside had returned,

ned her

gan di

s deals. Prope

she fo

tate New York. Paid for in cas

me on the

t Bla

n's m

or ten

erty taxes were

breath

n't the only one

wasn't as burie