trembling hands, and Alexa was too terrified to refuse when Armando appeared

of his black Bentley, the leat

was the soft hum of the engine as the city lights slid past the tinted windows. A man named Frankie Lau,

low. But his presence filled the car, a low-grade hum of power and masculinity that mad

me?" he asked, his voice

her. She looked at him, then quickly away

me under his breath, a

ust call him brother." The word was soft, imbued with all the a

the car seemed to

with the air conditioning. She risked a glance at him. His jaw was tight, h

He didn't like the wa

t of his cologne, something clean and sharp, filled her head. "Do

tion was

ice barely audible. "I

loose strand of her hair, rubbing it between his thumb and forefing

n lower, laced with a strange, possessive qu

cation felt dangerous. It felt like he was l

t the door was at her back

on his features. He wanted her to know that he was staking a claim

into his seat, the moment of intimacy

rinth of contradictions, one moment cold and d

est apartment building. It looked small and sh

It was over. "Thank you,

d for the

ve. The door

hit her. She looked

ing. "I will be here for you in the morni

another

shaking her head. "

said, cutting her off. He ga

k click

te, clumsy escape. She ran to the door of her building without looking