billionaires and mob bosses held their breath, te

ply reached down, snatched the bidding paddle off the

a dark, violent promise that car

en bi

forehead with a trembling hand, his voice cr

ked. She slammed her hand against

nd to look at Jasper. Her

perately checking the routing numbers of their offshore accounts. He looked

el

lute limit in untra

rate holdings under her 'Architect' persona. But liquidating that kind of capital instantly would trig

blow her co

microphone button. Her deepened v

ve bi

le. "Boss, stop! That's insane. The pendant isn't wort

ark, obsessive madness. He was not going to let anyone take his only chance at a

. His voice was absolute ice,

en bil

hockwave. Several older men in the back ro

r stomach plummeted. She was out of liquid funds. She

erventilating. He slammed the gavel

billion dollars!

laric didn't smile. He didn't sit down. He kept his cold, mur

, Sera's visio

at boot. The glass shattered into a thousand pieces, th

ay with her mother's pendant. If sh

Sera barked at Jasp

leather gloves, yanked the box door

lass. He leaned down and spoke sharply to Wyatt. "G

rned and walked toward the private VIP st

of the second floor. She bypassed the elevators, heading stra

ed out to push

tstep echoed from the

and hovering inch

of the shadows, completely b

s sharp cheekbones. His gray eyes locked onto her

f her hat cast a shadow over her medical mask. Her

ensive leather shoes sinking into the carpet felt like a hammer beating against Sera's ch

e looked down at her slighter frame, his sheer

mirk touched the cor

of an introduction," Alaric said, his voice a