cking sharply against the marble floor. She pushed open the

ight. She walked over to the marble sink and turned on the cold wate

Her cheeks were flushed red from an

unlocked it. The text message from the lawyer's burner number-a cold fol

ss idea sparke

give him exactly what he expected. She would show him that sh

e camera app

down the dimly lit hallway toward the VIP boot

llway from the booth. Next to the screen was a large, polis

hrough the gap i

ward off the draft. He was looking down at his own phone, his face illuminated by the screen's glow. His broad shoul

. She angled the camera

the shot. She pulled the collar of her gray jacket down slightly, exposing the sm

ly cut off. She deliberately angled the shot so a decorative amber wall sconce cast a strange, distorting glare directly across the fabric of his jacket. The harsh light completely obscured the subtle p

t, illicit photo taken in the

reath and tapped t

masked any identifying details of the clothing. It was incre

with the "Vampire Husband

ence: Get used to the h

hit

gh, she went into the settings an

ction flooded her veins. She took a deep breath,

screen and stepped b

ate phone-resting in the inner breast poc

was still looking at his w

sip. The anger was gone, replaced by the sharp foc

id, her voice returning to

d up. "Are you finished having a m

wanted to ask you about Vanguard's internal stru

sting his chin on his hand

verick," Arnetta said, dro

from his face. His jaw clenched so hard a muscle ticked visibly

" Brennan demanded, his voice

talks about him. The way he handled the tech buyout last year was genius. He i

yes. It was a bizarre, conflicting sensation. This woman, who

ched up and adjusted his silver cufflink, a

dismissively. "He is just a man.

essed, leaning closer. "Does he work in th

emotely. I communicate with him exclusively through

ointment. He was stone

tension, and silently placed the

pulled a heavy black titanium card from

ng on the sidewalk outside the rest

to the curb. The doorm

rdered. "My driver

ht of sitting in that enclosed spac

d politely. "I need to walk off

He didn't argue. He stepped into the back

nto the Manhattan traffic. She let out a long, shaky breath. She had

ompletely unaware of the ticking time bomb