TER

hor'

evander Smith, the city's most elusive billionaire, tied the kn

ybe few that didn't know he ex

rm-silent, calculating, and dangerously composed. Beneath the gloss of tail

lionaire i

e. And even those who didn't want

ook the news more personally t

ity. The queen of business. A woman in her late sixties who wo

said-but her billions were just a pretty curtain.

ved for power,

she wante

kind that spilled blood on the streets.

cul

ea

o

sting stuff not

tice for her d

o softened her iron heart. Too soft, in fact. S

he hospital had swapped her real daughter for someon

ha had ha

n life, be exactly like your mother and fûck l

e with kindness-maids, guards, even strangers. Her softness wasn't weakness;

tabbed to death. Sa

Smith's family . Not a soul susp

hless as Lagatha had children. The t

erat

gic

s for six years, built his dreams, gave him her body and bore him five childr

___

THA'S

ce, but my presence screamed authority, I'm in charge afterall. My g

d beneath the chandelier's light. A gloved ha

n each side of the long mahogany tab

in sweat. Eyes darted nervously

t I want to see, the

the message," I said, my voi

message was simple,easy

tapes. Explicit, unfiltered, undeniable. Men sleeping wit

he dark.

s would be disgraced. Their empires would be crus

s. My eyes turned to the entrance. My sons,Thorfinn and Gr

. My everyth

y lips, not from jo

calm as always. He had the face of a romantic and the heart o

harp-jawed. Eyes like frostbite. He rare

ong black hair swept into a high ponytail, her red heels clickin

they bowed

st. Yeah they're my children,mine

Thorfinn reported, voice

oward them, their fear n

t was,that was the exp

your sins," Thorfinn b

ach. Sent to the account

m alive," Grey added, his vo

e map. Quietly. Painfully," Krystal sai

idened with realization. They weren't in

ly croaked, v

t... this i

to the politician that blur

ower," He

I won't..pay a single di

t instantly and he went numb

scapegoat"Grey muttered,he shot h

ty going off echoed l

r pray."Krystal said

wer is

ay,they don't hav

it to punish men who aren't satisfied with th

__

er's mansion,he made his way down the dim corridor

he'd punish Gabriel through Lorraina, he'd make

n without warning an

the one his mother had laid out for her earlier. It clung to her body, delicate an

chest rising and fall

her tucked into the pocket of his black slacks. His white shirt was

ived behind those eye

allowe

uietly, his gaze sweeping over

felt it and damn her for blushin

oo

ed her voice

r said it was tradi

osed the door behind him with a soft click t

him,as he moved closer t

he echoed,

is about tradi

aught herself. Her fingers twist

e to look me in t

asked him and he c

he grabbed her by the neck tightly an

ng his hand to br

ly, struggling to catch h

. pl

rraina," he said, his voice

You were never a wife to

T