before he could react. She walked quickly toward the entryw

inst the small brass pe

the corridor. Standing right at the front of the mob was her half-sister, Haylee. Haylee's

ned to choke her. The panic she had felt a year ago flashed in her mind, but it was insta

stal glass, dropped a single ice cube into it, and poured a splash of water. He l

ike your fiancé's little trick worked,"

the door, crossing her arms tightly over her chest.

ase Capital takes a hit right alongside mi

surprise crossed his dark eyes, quickly replaced

he door grew loud

outed from the hallway. The metallic scrape of a mast

the room. The floor was s

lace underwear, kicked them forcefully under the heavy velvet

from the door. The hea

ed open violently

The rapid-fire clicking of camera shutters sounded like a

lying to her mouth. She let out a loud, theatri

e was a carefully constructed masterpiece of devastation a

ght, her chin lifted. She looked down at the invading crowd wit

rtbreak. He reached out, his hands aiming for her shou

hit her stomach. She stepped sharply t

mpty air. He stumbled sl

t expected Elena to reject Darron's touch. Elena

eir lenses, capturing Darron's awkwa

robe, but it hung open, clearly displaying the angry red scratches trailing across his chest and stomach

died for one stunned second. The paparazzi stared in absolute shock. Th

de of gray. His jaw dropped. He had paid the hotel s

The sheer weight of his dark, menacing aura made the repo

. He looked down at Darron, a dangerou

ng rumble that commanded the entire room. He took a deliberate step forward, his sheer size dwarfing the smaller man. "I bought the m

sts to clench, trying to regain control of the narrative. "You de

nto the light, squeezing a few tears from her eyes. "Elena, how could you do

tears. A sneer of pure, unfilt

ared he

but it was sharp as a razor blade, cutting throug