THE BILLIONAIRE'S SILENT CLAIM

he glass doors of the

shoes ruined, and a shiver crawling up her spine. H

ard. One step back. The rain drenched her hair, clinging to her face

he doorman muttered, eyes flicking to

p breath and s

int perfume. Soft lighting reflected on the marble floors. Quiet

m the cold. It was something

she whispere

sk clerk loo

a said, her voice crac

then typed into the system. "

ing calm into her voic

voice cut thr

an hav

na t

suit, but it didn't diminish the way he seemed to command the r

wood," the

ce at him. His eyes were on

penthouse,"

na f

ake that," s

ser, slow and del

kered between them. Something

sitated. The

kily. "Thank you.

aint, almost imperc

y sound was the soft hum of the machinery and the

o that," Serena said

the numbers cl

ed, her fingers tightening

cause you looked like

assive glass walls, city lights stretching e

said quickly. "I do

r behind her. "You

ick of the lock echoed l

"I won't touch y

ound devoid of humor. "

face, his gaze s

the window, needing distance, needing to bre

o I," Luca

is face. "You offer str

aid. "You

s parte

strong," he said

. "I'm tired," she a

, deliberate, almost casual,

rd lin

ord this pla

," he

eant," she said soft

closer. "What

" she whispered, unable to h

u want it t

ingled. The cit

omplications,"

d, his voice low, almost

one had ever said that to her before,

, but her fingers clenched hi

. He brushed wet strands of hair from

coul

ould have passed, or minutes. Time didn't exist. Only him. Only her. Onl

ht streamed through the

eside her

est ti

ay on th

shouldn't h

hone

l from an un

essage a

na Vale. I

eath c

n't kno

at was supposed

y changed

ng behind the glare of the morning sun. Her

left with

too silent now, th

y, his voice, the way he'd look

she knew she couldn't g

t night. Something danger

d again. Anothe

You don't ha

art ha

ave happened...had begun a