dge of the leather seat, her fingers twisting in her lap. Her brother's life hung in the balance,

ally, his voice smooth but edged with someth

art thudde

rry

landed l

at?" she

You'll be protected, and your brother will receive

g to process what he

will suspect a thing. And frankly, you have t

ed. "A pa

unreadable. "A partner. F

fter a

er, your brother ali

t she had no choice. The doctors had warned her-without payment by the

ely a whisper. "F

ontract toward her. "Read it. Si

ity clauses, a no-intimacy clause-strange, but it c

We're late for our en

ze. "Al

n't w

age, where a black SUV waited. Inside, she noticed

d to this kind of

smile. "You'll have

e and crawling with media. As soon as they entered, cameras fla

in her ear, "like you'

tulations, the scent of champagne and power. All while Liam play

w something darker. A w

o the penthouse. Liam showed her

leep here

d y

business wi

r the first time in hours. She sank o

ital. Your brother's treatment has been f

eyes. Relief, gr

. It was a transaction

d slid under the sheets. Sleep came slowly, chased by thoughts of Liam Westwood, hi

t midnight,

ic

tense

t, silent, heart racing. Liam was i

he doesn't know the full

ed back, br

n't he t

his head snapped up. H

asked, like he hadn't

nod. "I hea

stepped closer. "G

a chill through her. Like it w

ked away, but his

don't ever open that

followed said mor

y, then disappea

, staring at the ceiling, th

know the

g in that drawer he di

she

of diamonds and glass-and she

to Liam