marble floor. The noise of the party-the clinking of crystal, the murmur of gossip, the swell of v

stepped forward, offering his arm, his smile genuine and warm.

nto his bicep, gripping the fabric of h

at her hand, then up at her face. He saw the tensi

is voice dropping. "What

ow and devoid of inflection. "A private

as an Adams. He recognized a crisis when he saw one. He didn't ask questio

," he

ng mechanically at guests who tried to stop her, but she didn't slow d

a hand to her forehead. "Edward,"

stantly. She was wearing a red dress that was slightly too bright for

to touch Annette's arm. "Pre-wedding jit

f she had been burned. "I need to si

oyed at the interruption but maintain

e added sharply. "Edw

nt of old paper and leather. As soon as they were inside, Lucas shut the

of the party vanished, repla

e desk-Edward's chair-and sat down. It was a power

ping with faux concern. "Where is Hank? H

She took out her phone and set it dow

id. The temperature in the room seemed

darted to Edward, then back to A

answer. She tap

ideo

he wet, sloppy noises of kissing. The rustle of cl

rtune pays for t

less cas

, and then a deep, mottling purple. He s

lunged forward, her hand reaching fo

ouch her, but his presence was a wall. He looked at

er voice rising in pitch. "Edward, tell

at scraped against the back of her throat. "Stres

s lawyer persona fully activated. "Fundamental breach of trust. The me

guest chair, the fight draining out of him. "

ette said softly. "Wait until the press gets this video

't," Bernad

," Anne

ndle rattled. Someone

" Annette

the door and

flushed and slightly drunk. Behind him, hovering in the hallway like a ghost, w

y. "What's going on? Why is everyo

a heavy crystal tumbler from

a thousand glittering shards. Whiskey sp

the glass, then at his

he sq

her legs. She looked at him with eyes that held

e, darling,

oss her throat, trying to signal Ha

desk. The video had looped. It was paused on a

ff," she said. She paused, letting the wor

les