g head. He squinted into the blinding light

" he yelled, his voice cracking sl

he cherry of his cigar against the wet brick wall. The movem

head a fract

ve assistant, Sam, stepped forward. Two

rrifying speed. He grabbed the lead thug's arm

oed in the alley as the m

to his knees, s

rds lunged. They grabbed the men by their cheap leather collars and slammed

er the puddles, his expensive leather shoes maki

er. She was shivering violently, her clothes soaked w

, her eyes focused on the

er was soaking into the knees of his custom trousers. H

oat. He pulled it off his shoulders and wrap

om his body heat and smelled faint

y crash of the alcohol, made Alena's brain short-

hand and grabbed the cuff of his white dr

. Her voice was so fragile it

ck, and her body w

dangerous storm brewed in his eyes. He scooped her

anding on the curb, holding a massive black um

r seat next to him. The heavy door slammed shut, ins

hick cashmere blanket from the comp

pale, except for the angry red handprint swe

ed against the corner of her mouth, wiping away a fr

looked in the rearview

ew said. His voic

, pulling into the private underground garage o

e VIP elevator strai

Alena down a long hallway lined with Persian rugs. He pressed

er down on the massive king-size bed. He moved with a

stress. Her hands were locked in a death grip on the

o loosen her fingers so he co

hrashed her head side to side, letting out

the mattress and let her hold onto his coat. He sat there in the

lly deepened into a rea

t bar. He poured two fingers of scotch and drank it in one s

ne from his pocke

drew said to the empty room. "T

windows. He stared down at the glittering lights of Manhat

. The sun be

e smart blinds and hit the bed. Alena groane

forced her

nize. The room smelled intensely of masculine ce

She was still wearing her dirty dress, wrapped tightly in the bla

rosted glass door of the ma

out. Water dripped from his wet hair down his chest. He w