se's

Hall cler

ilded ballroom I had just left,

suffo

is heavy, steady hand signi

harp, jagged signature that looked l

, sliding the p

hand hovered over the

eover. I was handing my freedom over to a man rumored to have cut

's pathetic ex-fiancée. The girl who

. Eloise

d the document w

Alphonse

le, and he di

of his coat, right next to where I knew he kept his gun. "You are unde

," I said. "I need to fa

a fleeting second, I caught

rk amusement at watching a

walk out, I'm coming in. And if I c

k to the estate I

in Lake Forest, paid for

into a velvet box when th

ois

ld

loosened and his hair disheveled. He

harsh hospita

ed you ten times. Jaidyn... thank God, it was a false alarm.

fixed on my jewelry box

aid. My voice was complete

opped in his tracks, staring

You're overreacting. It was an emergency. I couldn't j

looked a l

s," I said, turning to face him. "I don't wan

We'll reschedule the wedding. Next mon

next month," I said.

e went as pale

ha

walking past him toward the door. "I s

harsh, bruising. It was the first

. "Alphonse wouldn't do t

his hand on my arm until he let go, stung by my icy d

" he yelled, following me into the

ve," I said. I pulle

driveway. Alphonse was leaning against th

and stopped dea

n whispered, his voice t

boss," I

proached Alphonse, I felt a strange, radiating heat. He tossed

the car do

wasn't looking at me; his eyes were f

" I

lood on my wedding nig

nodded.

d away, I watched Holden in the rearview mirro

orner, I caught the look in his

, unadultera