buzzed at

unknown number:

n't s

n't s

e's face. Felt his hand on my waist. He

d in scal

mani, heels sharp e

to hell, I'd look l

and steel. The doorman nodded witho

urse

leave anyth

ty-three floors. Each one felt like another d

ed, the penthouse t

r sprawling below. Rothko. Basquiat.

Da

he'd been waiting for me s

s early," he said wi

d not to

at my body responded. That even knowing what he

se. The elevator doors closed behind

lass table cove

ve here. Attend events with me. Play the devoted wife. In excha

ed the

bout public appearances

cold and

I fou

id slowly. "Full custody

es

s about

n't de

sign away cust

iet. Deadly. "I want you to

the rage building. "I kept hi

of him. "From me? From having a fath

e city, toward the violence underneath everything. "From b

cond you brought him back to New York, you made him a ta

clenched

that," I said. "

ckered across

d. "You named him

ne who'd died protecting me. Who'd pushed me

es

een honored," Da

hard. Refu

ing over cust

don't hav

r. Called his bluff. "Good luck fin

ri

top

't t

're staying in. They'll come for you tonight. Maybe tomorrow. Profe

art s

take my name and move into this penthouse, you

ned s

s eyes. The tension in his jaw. The way his hands were cl

custody clau

N

ody. We both hav

d this for a

said. "But he lives here.

rt cle

r with a father he didn't know

sa

of power I could n

d quietly. "He'll

tell him

runs half of New York's underwor

his parents. That we love him. That we'll keep

t the cont

e typed n

oretti

never thoug

never thoug

nths,"

mon

at, I'm f

you want

won

ll s

rom his pocket an

ook

f it settled

to a man who had every reason to hate me. Woul

ld save Lu

he entire worl

sig

ante's smaller, uncertain, like my

signature. Qu

aid, and the name sounded like a th

hone

expressio

?" I

the screen

ge. No numbe

. TELL MORETTI'S DAUG

d turne

s alread

with commands I barely heard t

-four

wasn't

already

my son and a bullet was the marriage

nded hi

ll meet you there. You have two hours be

hou

e cold. Flat. The eyes of a kil