on

ll clung to me like c

kitchen, bare-chested, wearing nothing but black slacks.

still sm

tr

nails clawed at my shoulders like she never wanted to let g

le. But her eyes had haunted me more than I cared to admi

ndred-dollar bill on the

even ask

, tossing the cup into the s

ng. I'd barely made it into the

her. And

is leg, eyes cold and sharp. Rafael stood nearby with a smug look painted on his face,

hy they

rked before I could open my m

was still half unbuttoned, hair mes

d, voice low but firm. "Don't you ever forget who you are and wh

owled. "Disrespected

, slamming his cane against the floor.

n, eyes cold. "It w

the same smug look he always

didn't

matter how hard he worked, he couldn't shake the fact that I was the heir. I had th

e polishe

the

onths

lder. Darker. Or maybe I just st

ed slowly, watching the

t no less terrifying. Rafael stood near the window this

roblem," Gra

," I muttered, sink

ipments in Naples. Whoever it is, they know how we operat

oice sharp. "It's i

know?" I

. "Jaxon, I want you to find

wil

siness anymore. We're under scrutiny. Media attention. Investors wat

es. "What are

eed a

nce was

ha

man beside you changes the story.

glass. "Good luck finding

y mind had alrea

tr

erable, like life had beaten her down

help. Too strong to show weakness. But

h nothing but a hundred-dollar bil

er supposed

t

exactly wh

I said coolly, already

Night – Out

n lights spilled across the pavement. She moved with grace and weariness, d

beau

l bu

n front

fr

ned like she'

a slow, c

ss

-what th

like ice wrapped in velvet. "Your mom. The hosp

ghtened. "Did

stigate

hy

r. "Because I h

stif

"For appearance. For legacy. J

ike she coul

lowering my voice to a w

speak. Ju

hed her eyes go wide. "Signed. Sealed. You

aus

fall in lov