sat like a bomb on Is

inct screaming that she should not open it. Alexa

t said what would

quiet. The hum of the refrigerator and the distant car horns outs

n unmarked briefcase from a sketchy warehouse in an alley g

ust unusual.

s? Or cash? Or some

e table to ground herself,

see if she'd follow orders. Or maybe... this was his way

s always, was a

ts own, flicking th

ic

rt pounding, then

ic

ly lifte

stole he

t anything s

anila envelope sat atop several leather-bound journals, a pair

th haunting eyes and soft

ooked vague

at the small boy in her arms. His eyes,

nder

as his

the man who now ruled h

ical records. Dozens of them. All for "Emily Kane." Canc

k as she read

Slowly. Painf

age: a death certificate d

s throat

is wasn't business. This was pai

istakenly assumed she'd obey, enou

it mean

l crept dow

phone buzzed o

wn Nu

opene

eath c

age popped u

it back

nder's penthouse open

penth

board members. Just his private residence high above Manh

riefcase tightly as she

.. brea

kyline. Everything was dark wood, chrome, and

his pocket, the other nursing a glass of

yed me," he

a back-alley warehouse with no expla

ally t

ent this time. Not cold, not ca

he said quietly. "It wa

t out after I

linc

t mean to invade your privacy. But you're hiding so m

said sharply. "I don't

the weight of

counter between them. "I get it. You're

long time. "You think

ispered. "Bu

ers. The air between them shifted

ared of me, Isabe

ause you're broken? Or beca

red in his eyes.

close to getting fir

're just mad I didn't play th

e. "No. I expected you to disappoint me. What

art sk

turned away again. "Go ho

for a beat. "

aid

e was a blur of mot

s pulled together, clutchi

ain it. He'd looked at her like she was more than

couldn'

ld

ked open. For the first time since her

.. feeli

rived at Kane Technologies at

erfectly arched brow. "Look

k, organized everything with surgical precision, and br

.m., she

the elevator, dressed in a dark gray sui

her withou

ing his office, he sp

might actually beli

praise.

for

close

alendar adjustments, meeting prep, it all clicked

he knocked lightly

e the clip

u have lunch with the E

r Thursday. Make sure it's priv

t i

to leave,

.. about la

on't talk about personal

," she sai

u," he added

blin

ed, just

ing to leave, her phone buzzed with

lert: Secur

owned.

r, the recept

eed to come to the ma

hat hap

here. She says sh

's blood

.. w

using a scene. Security won't

d at the phone

, not since she ran off with a new husband and left I

ll was she

he know where

heart racing, nerves fraying. Because if her mother