onto the concrete stairs outside the side exit. She shiv

et go of

made Brook's stomach hollow out. S

d of any warmth. He adjusted the cuffs of his suit. "I shielded

was still trying to process the

t. He pulled it out. The screen flas

ne tight against his ear, stepping slightly away

n's panicked voice buzzed faintly against Julian's ear, completely inaud

through his nose. "Tell my gra

finality of the word married

phone started buzzing in her cheap

ng the phone hard agai

d out of breath. "Kevin has been sitting in th

med to stop. Broo

ook whispered. Her throat felt

you up with. He neve

from her ear. She tu

g down at his phone, his thumb swiping

rook said. Her voice shook so

y eyes locked onto hers.

was Kevin," he r

lurred at the edges. She gripped the

Carden

thout a title

tely nothing to her. She had just legally bound herself

. The widening of the eyes that always came when women realized

pure, unadul

tasted strange in his mouth. He didn't want an annulment.

he way he looked at her like a piece of meat. If she annulled thi

w to unclench. Sh

whispered. "

into his pocket, pulled out a standard-issue corporate business card, and held it

tomorrow,

stairs, leaving Brook standi