son

perfect suit slightly rumpled, a dark, healing bruise visible on his sho

le about what happened," he began, the lie smooth and practiced. "It was

ity of it, the sheer, insulting

on a warning tone. "I don't want this incident to cause h

et it go?" I repeated, my voice a low growl. "She assaulted me, Grays

faint line of annoyance. He

mily may have disowned me, but our lawyers are still on retainer. I wonder how the Daugherty Corporati

the broken, lovesick girl he'd married was still there. She wasn't. She had died on a rainy st

s voice tight. It was the langua

pointed to the bottle of whiskey a well-meaning visitor had lef

rway, let out a small gasp. Her face went

bottles, I thought you might be just as good at emptying them. Or should I c

rror. She looked at Gra

the bottle from the table. "I'll drink it," he said, his vo

abbing his arm. "You can't! You'

removed her hand. "

o risk his life for her. For her honor. The pro

r breath. He drank it like it was water, his Adam's apple bobbing with each swallow. The amber liquid disappeared

hing grew labored. But he kept drinking. When the last bottle was empty, he s

atisfied?"

me in. "Mrs. Daugherty, it

is feet, his body fighting the allergic reaction, I mo

oming. Her eyes

voice deadly calm. "I believ

h her head with a sickening thud. Sh

in the sudden silence. I turned and w

e, his voice a raw, broken sound of fury and disbelief. I heard him scrambling,

ng on the cold table, listening to the hurried footsteps and panicked shouts

re, alone, with only the hum of the machines for company. When I

decadent, most unapologetically sl

and hedonistic strangers, I tried to b

asked, her eyes full of worry as she wa

on't break. We just get even." I slammed the glass down.

olor of the sea and a smile that could melt glaciers was sitting beside me. I leaned i

wn on my wrist, t

cold, furious eyes

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