cheap wood rattling in the frame. She leaned again

as a

her skin raw, trying to wash off his scent, his touch, the mem

n her phone lock screen. His bright smile was a knife in her gut. T

door made her heart

caught. It

heart pounding, and pee

fectly tailored. Thin gold-rimmed glasses.

through the door. "I am Vincent Hayes, Mr. Mckay

'd found her. Of course he had. Men like hi

to a thin line. "I have

e voice repli

nder the door, followe

is the latest medical report for your son, Leo Costa, including consultation summaries fr

Her blood turn

eal-zeroes that made her dizzy. But it was the report that

dissected her life, found her wea

ued, a silken threat. "You can choose to come down now, Miss Costa.

was usin

se escaped her

uickly under a wave of cold powerlessness. Sh

er face pale and grim. Walking down the stairs of her

windows like predator eyes. Understate

opened as sh

here

hands. He'd changed into a flawless bespoke suit, dark gray, emphasizing the breadth

inal click. His scent filled the space, that same col

hythmic, impatient beat against the tablet

finally. His voice was cold

ared at h

rce of his attention hit her like a physical bl

the next three months. Be my woman. I'll c

A commodity. Somethin

st, hot and defiant. "

rk. "Breaking into a strange man's penthouse suite, throwing

ight. From his perspective, that's exactl

older onto her lap. "Sign i

Absolute obedience. Constant availability. Forbade any contact

ty. Her sense of sel

turned to t

cancer center in the country. Guarantee of payment i

ers. His laughter, growing rarer. His w

shameful. She would no

pen provided. Ink

signed her name. Kelsey Cost

itten the clause naming Tristan himself, a test of her desperation. Seeing her sign it, knowing what she was leaving behind, confirmed every cynical calculation. A woman w

a curt, satisfied nod. The folder stayed in

look at

f the car. "Notify the hospital.

ping to a cold, fina