lard's weight. Her lungs burned from the lack of oxygen and the sheer, blinding ra

hed into his trouser pocket, pulled out a black silk pocket s

rly devoid of warmth. "Is this how Elias B

w to the stomach. Her pupils dilated. The frantic struggling of h

teeth, her voice trembling with a hatred so deep

t jacket. He pulled out a thick, folded legal docum

ew York State Supreme Court gleamed in the fireli

ext until they locked onto the bold, black signature at t

she spat, her chest rising and falling rapidly. "McKnight sent you to clean up the loos

the lapels of her silk robe, hauling her upper body off

th a dangerous low frequency, "compare the Conway

ttered, manic intensity. "I don't care what your name is. I am going to drag Je

eration in her eyes

om vanished. In its place, a flash of a dark room, a pool of thick crimson blood spr

his nervous system

les in his forearms spasmed. His grip on her robe loo

ength. She shoved both her hands hard against his chest, breaking his hold, and

bbed the heavy, solid brass base of the table lamp from the

ed vault of his mind. He adjusted his platinum cufflink, the familiar, grounding motion helping him sup

er to the leather armchair by the fireplace, and sat down. He crossed

ctly what happened in that laboratory fire,"

a second. Her eyes narrowed in deep suspic

g onto hers, "is your complete surrender. You will hand over all your fr

nt you pulled tonight with the car was pathetic.

amp. Her stomach twisted. She knew he was right. She was penniless, legally bound to him

idly. She needed a lever. He was offe

lute calculation. She lowered the lamp. The heavy brass base hit the mahog

ng at him. "How do I know

ht in front of her. He reached out with his right hand-the one s

ark and heavy. "But if you betray me, Keira, the con

ch-black eyes and gave a single, s