he estate's private study cli

y for his afternoon nap. Now, the s

a. Her back was rigid. Her hands were clasped so tightly in he

. He poured two glasses of neat whiskey. He walked back an

't touch it. She couldn't. The six-week-old s

ed out the marriage contract,

to the glass. Her hand shook violently, but she pressed

ed up the contract, his dark

ehind a painting, and a steel safe revealed itself. H

d in the room. It sounded like a prison cell

p breath. She looked

d, her voice trembling but defiant, "why

't walk back

e sofa. Each step was measured, predatory, a

sed her back into the leather cushions

p. He stepped righ

his massive frame over her. He planted both of his hands on t

skey and cedar washed over her. H

ead. His nose almost

he felt in her own chest. "Four years ago, in that hotel suite in Las Ve

eyes blew

ure shock hit her br

is solid chest, trying to push him away. He didn't

heaving. "You just showed me the DNA repor

ompletely ignoring her que

pressing closer, forcin

spered, his gaze dropping to her lips. "And I re

shivered

e continued, his voice dropping to a chill

uggling. Her blood r

eyes locking onto hers. "I know your architectural firm almost went bankrupt

hroat. This wasn't a sudd

. "For four years. Why didn't you just come to

sofa. He trailed his knuckles l

g hot. He pressed his thumb against her pul

they knew you existed, if they knew you were my weakness, you would be d

, a cruel smirk pl

y. "Who do you think sent that encr

pped. The video. The t

y from his hand. "You orchestrated everything. You drov

ook angry. He lo

firm but not painful, and fo

is gaze. He looked away from her face a

d. A spike of pure terro

his lips brushed again

reath hot against her skin. "What exactly does a wo

eyes shut. A tear sl

clinic. He knew everything. She

htening his cuffs, instantly transformin

he desk and pressed

oom," Justice ordered the butler. He looked back at Cordelia, h