tobacco. It was a masculine, oppressive scent that instant

muring about market shares. In the far corner, near the window, Abbey saw Sophie. She was sitting on a stool,

ard Sophie, but Miles clam

ered. "We have to p

nd. Abbey felt like a doll

nd with a practiced, politician's smil

g in the air for three agonizing seconds before he f

e was a low baritone that vibrate

hand. He pulled Abbey closer, his fingers digging into her h

s's hand on her hip. His expression didn't change, but

s sounded like he was tasting somethi

med, oblivious to the razo

a sip of his whiskey, his eyes never

he pulled away from Miles

er. The balding man had hi

voice shaking but lou

yed. "Excuse me? We're

ped. She grabbed Sophie's

nked, her eyes unfo

tanding up. He blocked Abbey's path. "This gi

d, coming up behind Abbey.

terling? The kid? Go run to d

ned his mouth to retort,

, white-hot rage flared in her chest. She grab

d, lifting the bucket, "and I

ghed. "You

AS

s exploded through the room.

one f

glass against the wall. The

ver everyone in the room. He adjusted his cuffs, his f

ed instantly. The balding man took a

n. He didn't shout. He didn't pos

t," Arm

ward, I w

sh with you. If I see you in one of my properties again,

s jacket and scrambled toward the

turned

nstead, he reached out and plucked the ice bucket from h

nly he knew, a private joke from a Parisian sum

me that," Ab

interjected, stepping between

snapped his fingers. Two massive bod

"Take her to Lenox Hill. Private roo

e her," A

o her, invading her personal space. He sme

" Abbey said, though her

shed her ear. The intimacy of th

for tonight?" Armond whispere

hecking his reflection in the wi

choice. It