he guest room felt too soft and too quiet, trying to calm her

h the marble hallway, drawn to the faint

. already, and Damo

of the door, hesita

But the door

door slowly and

hiskey in one hand and his other hand was buried in his hair. His jacket lay tossed away on the couch, an

ed... w

he said witho

ask you t

ent p

don't. I won'

rossed her arms. "Why do you keep

ecause it's the only part of

ached at

swirled the whiskey in his glass. "After my father died, they came for my mother and me.

breath

kened. "But there were rare moments when I remembered what it felt like to b

her voice gentler now. "I didn

wanted

e one who teased her by pulling her braids, treated her to mango

illed. A ma

safe by locking h

now who you are an

g his arms on the desk. "Th

stunned t

ed. "But I will earn that trust back,

en them. It felt heavy and s

the cabinet, pulling out a f

asked, her eyes nar

ist, along with three others associated with me-my lawyer, my driver, and... my

ough the pages,

ous. "Whether we like it or not. If I don't stay ahead

ant any of

u agree

was a

ause I didn't

ed. "That's why

-no conflict, no anger, no tension between t

e sat down again. "The media will be all ove

he reached the door, her hand on

ll angry

kno

t forgi

't expect

ed the room, heavy

. for saving me,

ove. Just watc

ed softly behind her

save you. I was tr