ugh the floor-to-ceiling windows

to fasten a heavy, blindingly bright diamond earring. She was using the jewelry as armor, tr

as wearing a bespoke, midnight-black sui

amond necklace. Without a word, he stepped beh

kin of her nape. His large, calloused fingers deftly secured the c

dark gaze in the mirror, her heart doing a violent fli

n to the garage. The bulle

e privacy partition rolled up, the tense, qui

resting on his lap. He pu

to force the port tariff reduction proposal at the dinne

mother, Lorraine, will put on her 'loving

ocking onto hers with terrifying intens

eir fake masks off. I don't want them ge

ed into a dangerous smi

d down at her legs. "If they back you into a corner you can't handle, kick my

No one had ever offered to protect her like this. But

ned avenues of the Upper East Side,

center console. His large hand clamped

but he intertwined their fingers, locking

," he said, staring straight ahead. "Sta

his, feeling the rough calluses on his palm and t

ch-style townhouse of the Poole family. T

nd offered his hand to April, playing the

of a paparazzi camera hidden in the bushes. He didn't flin

traightened her spine, and

ine, dripping in gaudy jewelry, rushed

ew smoothly shifted his body, blocking Lorraine comp

econd before she awkwardly shook

on the sofa, posing with a limited-edition Birkin. When she

oice to a breathy purr. "Hi, brother-in-law

throat. She clenched

ht through Sloane as if she were a piece of ugly

s like the prey is eager to jump into the slaughterh