ut of the luxury

ter hit her face, but her lungs expanded wit

ward, tipping his hat.

waving him off with

r phone, her thumb moving with practiced speed. She tapped on Conner

aking her feel dangerously light. She raised her hand, hailed a passing yellow cab,

ppeared into the traffic, a sleek, black Maybach

pened the rear door. Essex Jo

s clenched tight, his posture radiating a cold, aggressive authority. It was Friday. This

revolving doors. He expected to see Harmony sitting on the ve

bby wa

h line. A hot spark of irritation flared in his chest. He

and took the private elevat

was in chaos. Two maids were on their hands and knees, frantically scru

w Essex step out of the elevator, she gasped,

red the mess, the panic, and the glarin

e wasn't loud, but it carried a lethal, free

the back of his neck. He let out an ex

complained, rolling his eyes. "She's incredibl

athetic family drama. He cared

r pocket and dialed Harmony's num

have dialed i

to voicemail was an annoyance he delegated to his assistants to handle. Bu

yes toward Conner, who had

their daughters?" Essex asked, his ton

the Roberson family suddenly looked very

y, trying to salvage his pride. "Her accounts were f

for Conner to cut her off. Financial isolation was the final step in

a mask of fury. "I don't have

glass of water from a tray, put on her most fra

out the glass. "I'm so sorry my sister is

dn't look at her face. He completely and utterly ignored her exist

r face burned a violent, humiliated red as th

t of the elevator. He

ice echoing in the silent room. "

the elevator.

ch, he violently ripped his silk tie loose. He glared at h

one," Essex g

s iPad. Sweat beaded on his forehead.

one. The signal vanished through a series of complex relays and proxies. Our tech te

e arrogant certainty in his chest vanished, replaced by a sudden, dangerous obsess