er stood over the casket, his voice a low hum against the humi

Boudreaux, he o

here was no point. Julian was the last of the once-mighty Boudrea

of wilting flowers and cold food. Julian waited. He had been w

and caretaker, said from the doorway.

frame. The agreement was a relic of their arranged marriage, a

choed from the courtyard. Footsteps, sharp

itical heiress, swept into the room. She

A flicker of something-annoyance, maybe concern-cr

or about that," she sa

ssion hardened. "And stay away fr

uarter whose own health was supposedly fragile. The man she para

something," Julian started,

h contempt. "I know what you're doing. You think a little cough will make me feel sorr

governor, had used his power to run Leo out of town. It was a move to clear the way fo

reauxs in ruin, sh

Your family is getting e

leave, her vic

" she added, a final, cruel twist. "You

t behind her. The si

ing his body. He felt a hot, metallic tast

overed i

old Boudreaux plantation. The house was a skeleton of

d raised him after their parents died, her love the only constant

ght on her wrist. Dark, ugly br

d, his voice ti

lman whose career Caroline was syste

s nothing, Julian. Don't worry abou

, protective love. "If things with Caroline

rtyard. Caroline was standing close to Leo, her hands adjusting t

oke somethin

eavy. He didn't care about the humi

ease," he begged, his voice raw. "Stop what you're

ul smile playing on her lips. "You wa

the Boudreaux name. Disavow your family and everyt