close in on her. Every step was heavier as if she were sinking further into somet

curity. For a chance to sto

nveloped her. The stale smell of cigarette smoke and liquor clung in the air, a reminder of

elong

the bar, a sly smil

an's new little project?" she a

d. "I don't know what

't bring just anyone into his inner c

games. Whatever it was that Ethan saw in her,

oing on between you two, and I don't care. But listen to me-don't dro

e sign of sincerity. Tasha did not see

to be adv

was spending the night being trained by one of Ethan's ace managers, a man named Rick. H

e club. "Keep things running smoothly. Double-check the

ounded easy enough, but she knew not t

test came soone

ed, reeking of privilege-had one of the waitress's wrists in his hand a li

unk rich kid causing a

blinke

wants to see wha

. Natu

hed the table, her expression unch

anced at her. "No

er shoulders. "It is m

tightened. The

u don't let her go, security will be more than happy to

. Then, with a snort, he released the waitress's wrist

, still pumping blood fast. Rick stood, arms crossed o

don't expect they're going

lread

sense that she was being observed. It wasn't until she

the last individual who had ever b

ath

t, just as there was that night, when she had wandered in, chilled, looking for warmth, looking for someth

Jona

hing about him that made her hold back. He was different from them-he did not judge, did not p

friend," he had said to her t

-bitter, hollow. "I

one else saw her, and spoke with her when she thought she had nothing to offer. For months, she relied on that church, on

n she w

hadn't taken, hadn't wanted. She'd disappeared from that church, from Jo

f about her? Did he ha

tter. That part of her life was over. Jonathan belonged to a world she could n

to find Ethan making his way toward her, his typical smirk firmly

oice?" he theorized, proppi

e tempest within her with a chilly,

mused. "Good. I'd hate to

to the edge of the bar for balance

er how far one strayed, there was alway

o Ethan's piercing ga

ere never mea