ass doors of The Plaza. She looked down at the tips

hy socialites in floor-length gowns approached the entrance, f

atched face. She pressed herself closely against the group, slipping through the

dor. She reached the massive, carved wooden doors of t

orchestra played a smooth waltz. Waiters carried towering trays of champagne. The light reflected

crowded room with fra

stopped

estors, stood a man in a custom Tom Ford tuxedo. He was facing aw

wd. She didn't care who she hit. Her

ashed against the marble floor, shattering into hund

edo paused. Slowly

opped working. Hot tears instantly spilled

and the faint, almost invisible old scar just behind his left

oked out. Her voice

e spilled champagne. She reached out her bleeding ha

guard materialized from the shadows. He grabbed Audra b

marble floor. The jagged shards of broken champagn

oling beneath her finger

armth. He looked at her the way one might look at a rotting animal on

id. His voice was deep, smooth, and entir

orie Burke wrapped her slender arm intimately around the man's wa

o is this?" Corie asked, he

t, pulling her closer. The corner of his mou

ped. Ignore her," he stated loudly, ensuri

e. She shook her head frantically, her tears dripping on

ver with three large men in suits. They grabbed A

ruin the evening," Eben comm

n his face, but Eben had already turned away. He was gently tucking a str

ugh the ballroom, down the long corr

reezing asphalt of the da

trickled down her shins. She lay there on the cold pavement, her bod

ey. A black stretch Lincoln limousine rolled silently t

door sw

dra could scream, they grabbed her by

into the dark, cavernous

heavy door slammed shut behind her, ins

thick. It smelled sharply

the leather seat, her heart pound

long legs were crossed casually. In his right hand, h

k of the polite stranger was gone. His eyes