rand Plaza Club yielded under the weig

heavily perfumed with the scent of expensive Tom Ford cologne and the sharp, metallic tang of vintage champagne. A live jazz b

orate titans mingled. It was a world designed to make people like Dawn-people who

redible," a v

ss confidence that only came from never having to worry about money. She wo

nimalist, elegant, and entirely out of her budget, p

," Allyson said, pulling Dawn toward the cente

ptons. As they approached the bar, a familiar face stepped into their path. Kyle Bishop, a guy

Kyle said, extending a crystal flut

icate stem of the glass. She forced the corners of her mout

t the DA's office, a sudden, palpable shi

breath. The low hum of conversation near the entrance a

bubbles in her glass. But the physical reaction of the crowd was impossible to ignore. Like the Red Sea parting for Mo

le's shoulder, pulled by an

stepped into

old money and absolute power. But it wasn't the clothes that commanded the room; it was the way he wore them. He moved with

. The crystal glass in her hand suddenly felt

e her body so that Kyle's broader frame would cast a shadow over her. She wante

He was scanning the crowd, his expression utterly

ept over the area whe

second, his dark ey

est. Her lungs seized. The noise of the jazz band faded into a distant, muffled hum. Time stopped. In

re was

hs, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by a mask of mild disinterest. H

y without missing a beat, and continued his path toward

playboy and Arlo's oldest friend, shouted over the music. Freddie lunged forwa

back as he was immediately swallowed by a crowd

heer, unadulterated humiliation of being completely e

he freezing liquid down her throat. The alcohol burned a harsh path down her esophagus, hitting her already frag

ce laced with genuine concern. "You suddenly look lik

ch gave a vicious, warning cramp, a sharp twis

etched her lips into a smile that didn't rea

king her head. "It's just incredibl

on where Arlo was holding court. "Are you sure? I saw him wa

ded brittle and thin. It was a s

r. "Allyson, we barely know each other anymore. We have absolu

the lie. She turned on her heel, her stil

rowd, heading straight for the dimly lit, secluded terrace at the back of the club