plain tumbler of ice water

black marble of the bar, the sound sharp

rius said, his voice smooth and co

as he reached under the counter for the reserve key. That singl

s bridge loans were already stretched to the limit, but under Demetrius's flat, unblinking stare, he coul

r's trembling hands and set it down in front of Annabel, s

for your stomach

She picked up the glass, swirled it once, and took a slow, deliberate sip

econd before he turned away, heading toward t

nk, his hands shoved into the pockets of his designer s

clicked shut, the ambient noise in the b

twisted with venom, her manicured nails

th rage. "You're just a cheap distraction to a man like him. When he's done w

sound. "At least the drink is real, Jaylynn. Unlike y

ed her right hand, aiming a viciou

moved like s

mid-air, her thumb digging hard into t

n, her knees buckling as Annabel twis

for Jaylynn to see the cold, dead stillness in her amber eye

, clutching her bruised wrist against her ch

he waist, his eyes darting toward the VI

l out through the side doo

mpty glass down, and picked up her small clutch. She walked towar

IP lounge, her shoe clicked

d and loo

carpet, its solid silver casing engraved with the Franco fa

ainst her palm. She looked at the heavy door of the priva

d the quiet shuffle of poker chips. Keagan and two other youn

wing chair, Demetrius sat with his shirt

inside, the convers

a knowing grin as he stood up. "Looks like business

cleared out, leaving the heavy o

e table, placing the silver watch

your watch,

s eyes stayed glued to her face, track

t, catching her wrist with immova

ost traction, her body fallin