Halstead's Revenge

r chimed li

the scandal. Not since the whispers drowned

didn't come back t

k to burn ev

dropped. Phones hovered midair. Every move was calculated-the tailore

need thei

d their a

ippling across the executive floor o

th

came

know sh

. Let them choke on the lies they

ht for the glass office at the corner. His office. The one she once s

making the biggest

eft her with a s

ack at her from the polished glass. Same dark eyes. Same

uilt of

stammered behind her. "

y to face the stunned assistant. Schedule a meetin

ld answer, the door

here

a

s. Her ex-lover. The father of t

rper now. Harsher lines around his jaw. A new coldness be

e saw her,

or

a low knife

harp and slow

ust stared at her like sh

ng past him into his office without waiting for an in

behind them. "W

lder on her desk. I've been offered a senior con

owed. "Who app

y wanted results. And apparently,

d into a fist. "You co

ose h

hy

er voice cool. "Let's cal

turned e

rrowed. "Is this about wha

gave you everything, and you threw me under th

t's

ne sweet. I've moved on. I'm not the sa

"Is that what

k," she said.

ed between them

the folder.

laying wi

ned. "No. I

ring like a memory he couldn't erase.

during school pick-up hours," she said without

d out, leaving

o

omach

swept th

ad a

was right... he mi

t couldn't

overpriced coffee from the break room and walking a

sn't wait

his mind like a thre

ghts were ten floors away, standing in front of a school

ild... and that

d the fol

ded an

t them-by any m

the sleek glass conferenc

asn't

ive i

s seat as she outlined her proposal with military precision. She didn't need to look at notes.

inally murmured. "Didn't real

He didn't.

awkwardly. But

or L

ting. Cal's m

with suspicion br

," he said flatly. Surely there are better hire

e it

e

idn't

evor. I'm here to clean up the m

d laughs. Tr

d, folding her hands neatly, "it's only

al called his pri

everything." Name. Age. Sc

d of the line hesitated

" Cal growled.

was back in her

ced at h

on who knew the truth about everything. About t

ter she nev

call button, then pulled aw

came at

ed, as Cal walked in,

ou here to welcom

said. No pretense.

ightened.

ur

e it

een them cracked

me to ask," he said, voice cold. "You dr

her arms. "A

he m

ammed once i

aze. "Why does

rd. "Because I would

me under the bus, who let your board crucify me for

was

bubbling to the surface. You chose your reputation over the

he didn't recognize

he d

er really kn

th passed b

quietly, "Wh

long enough for th

li

darkene

beginnin

ep, voice low. "You

ld've pro

as. The truth

No more p

eep to bandage in

ut paused at the doo

was ice. "I

ng at the single framed photo on her desk-th

ht smile. His

who his father

est time, that h

ow Ca

se, he'

ause caring meant complication. It meant pow

hone

wn Nu

. She answered, c

woman's voice, l

ing back will er

a f

ry, who

t remember? Maybe this will jog your

ic

blood r

person who would da

a Va

ex-f

ly destroyed her

lked away with Cal's heart and an unplan

e scandal. Thought she'd buried her threat

she'd b

the window of his penthouse suite, a

eep. Couldn't

l

boy. A b

gh the fire alone while she'd

he silence-an email

cked i

EAD / PRESCOTT

aded slowly, al

ne hit him l

od type: O positive. DNA match wi

down,

s

ad a

se year

decision

st beneath the an

r her. Fought harder.

ppear-and someone else had

olled

ame caugh

nterference:

oat tig

cou

both motive

ngagement when he realized her obsession with control ran deeper tha

ed for h

dial Nora, a new e

nym

u willing to go to keep your

t... an

a clinic.

mp was four

ed: a

rst round. But the

ext morning, sunglasses on, nerves on edge. She

r to keep Eli for the weekend

Celia bac

al's sudde

forward like it had been waiting

ave, a car pulled u

dows. Expe

dn't

't p

drive

wat

omach

every file on Celia Vaughn. Anything she has touched in the last five

linked. Sir, is

said. Eve