going anywhe

ds released me. After I returned to my wing of the penthouse

for mayb

me and a file of prepared talking points in my lap, I was being driven t

en

eal E

rsona Andre wanted me to sell. A woman who'd bee

ging her back

orld was

ss I say so," Selene snapped, bru

got

test. And failure means headlines. Question

should have chos

g," she said with a cold smi

ted my

marble entrance of the De Luca Hotel

i lined

ulbs.

s you everything," Selene

e door and

ke that, I

ras swal

a! El

od-she's

t happened

e you left Andre

n't s

n't f

aught me-like a crown had

s waitin

e as I entered

fying second... h

hed as quick

" he said und

elcome,"

uth tw

hand and brought

ances," he

ks in champagne masks. Billionaires, politicians, heirs and he

arm like a wel

ke none of it

I sa

ai Sa

the wine tower

e man Andre believed

ss me with slow, de

Just for

"Smile," he warned.

s he

kno

you want

ss into my hand. "Exactly

llowe

me to flir

rkly. "I want yo

roached min

in velvet

he drawled. "Bac

stitched onto my face. "Mr. Saranov.

ed. "Only the b

a hand. I ga

d in his eyes as his f

he

t the lie u

drawing out the syllabl

erhaps death is good

hind me. Sil

i murmured. "But is t

n't a

ust enough for the cam

hispered. "My

dn't falter. But h

evening, Mr

e walk

ees almos

, pouring himself a scotch in a

rly th

"That means i

im. "Why does

tered. "He wants to be me. Wants my emp

. "He think

t h

st recog

hed slowly, g

t you're not Elena, he won't protect you. He'll use you to

ispered. "Would

ed in fr

't decid

d home aft

. But I felt like a loaded weapon now. A t

peared into

for almost ten minute

hat night we

lena hau

trapped in a m

more distorted

nter, Andre s

o res

o cla

ning brought

o my suite with

," she

ha

the scree

vi

ing the gala. Laughin

This one is a replacement. A

ood f

ws," I

onfirmed. "And

I

a pitying look.

to leave. T

your life, Maureen. Con

already on the phone, barki

up as I

g moves," I

kno

the world

he wo

How can you

jaw tight, ey

won't live l

nd padded barefoot across the icy floors

eded

om a man who kissed like sin

ing skyline stretching out like a kingdom I didn't belong

soft click of t

dn't

much," Andre said

her d

acket pulled over a dark shirt, his

ke other me

kno

don't even flinch when I

u won't forget who

ed mine. "What

r grip. And you can'

ow, wicked,

start thinking y

ou want so

stretche

lena," he

ked. "

e. On paper. But in reality-she was a viper. Cold.

hy marr

ys power. And betr

But you... you're dange

ow

ke me c

t have ste

I

upposed to be afraid of y

s from mine. "Then

me-slow and br

man kissi

ssing a problem h

ack, his hands s

dn't

here, Maureen," he mur

time, I wasn't s