ell to his study. He needed to see her,

sed, her posture perfect. "

himself, a bitter taste in his mou

her cool blue eyes. "You over

formance. Playing the dutiful bodyguard while you we

y own," she state

sound. "You think Liam is some kind of saint? Yo

id, a hint of defensiveness in her

o, he's not like me. I don't manipulate p

unwavering. "Make deals to marry women in comas?

was before I knew who you really were. Befo

said, not unkindly, but with a brutal honesty. "Your

flared.

ghtly. "As you wish. Will

reak something, to make her feel even a fraction of the pain

re's the annual Children's Foundation Gala in the Hamptons

a slight frown. "

wouldn't want to miss an opportunity to be near him, would you, Seraphi

e would. He also wanted to inflict some pain, to make her watc

ed slightly. "V

yes. A small, almost imperceptible shi

calculated conversations. Ethan hated these events. Liam was already there, holding

charity auction, a piece his mother had once admired. A wave o

others joined, then dropped out. Then, Liam' s

taste for once. I think I'll take that." Liam raised hi

Liam always had to have what Ethan wan

. Liam Hayes," the

sily. The first installment from Marcus had cleare

ck, then his expression hardened. He was about to bid again, his face flushe

tems Mr. Liam Hayes expresses an interest in this evening are to

an she' d spoken to on the phone. He stood th

' s surprise morphed into a smug, triumphant grin. He preened unde

evate Liam, to put Ethan in his place. He looked for her and found her standing near the edge of the room, h

eapened. He had the money, but she had the power, and she w

sical weight. The victory he' d sought had turned into another bitter defeat. And