op, she heard the distinct sound of a key

ick echoing in the silent room. Her hands, slick with

ive cologne and whiskey. He stopped short when he saw her sitting in his chair, a brie

" he asked, his tone alre

od leg. She took a step toward him, her movements stiff, and threw the burner phone.

up at her. The color drained from his fa

embling with a rage that felt like it was tear

ast her to the small bar cart in the corner and poured hims

ning to face her. "They are what

s a choked whisper. "We were together f

ward her, his eyes filled with a chilling con

honest. If your father hadn't gone bankrupt, if his company wasn't a sinking ship I was trying

eir family, was a blow more painful than any infidelity. It

the command. The crack of her palm against h

the side. Red fingerpri

a terrifying, unrestrained fury. He grabbed her wr

ne that," he hissed, hi

ay, and fell onto the leather sofa. He loomed over her, his face a

narled, his voice tight with me

de the desk. She didn't need to be told twice. She fled, her heart hammering

opened up. A cold, relentless autumn rain was lashing the city, turning

t as she could, the icy rain plastering her hair to her face and soaking her clothes within seconds. The

cks away, collapsing into the back seat, a shivering, dripping mess. She

looking like a drowned ghost. She pulled her inside

a. She stared out the window at the storm raging outside, a perfect reflection of the tempest insi

ce a low, venomous whisper. "I'm going to make

ssion serious. She was silent for a long moment

sn't afraid of anything. Not his fat

ting the words

's afraid of. One person he

up, her eyes

usin. If you want to destroy Jake, if you want to truly

nsane. It was reckle

his dismissive words, the mocking s

se. "Seduce him. Make him yours. Use him a

ating the room in a stark, momentary flash. In its

into her cold fingers. She looked at Mia, and in the ec