li

y hand when my father walked

wn. I wanted him t

wned it, technically, he'd paid for everything in this penthouse

aybe twelve, bruised cheek, split lip, crying in a corner. On the back, the th

st," I said. N

e chair across from me, completely at

nd

d your wife. You haven't done anything."

en though my jaw was locked tight. "It's attemp

ackmailed." Thomas studied me over the rim of

side, Manhattan glittered, i

u get the pho

it m

es

re was taken the night of Sophia Carter's funeral. The child was inconsolable. Bridge

een twelve years old at her mother's funeral, and her

"Pragmatic. She understands that family is a busines

d not

nscience about the replacement bride. The girl is a means to an end. Use her to secure

re of th

patterns. You obtained a restraining order against her sister. Yo

t my inve

precise movements. "Or are you making the same mistak

e mine, cold like mine u

e door, then paused. "But intelligence doesn't make you immune to weak

sat in the dark f

nd, and fed it into the fireplace. Watched

tograph

That if this escalated, I'd nee

stead of giving it to my lawyers. Or why I looked at

ized by grief and cruelty, pho

protected

to lunch tomorrow to discuss the charity gala.

at the

hoed: Confusing poss

e text witho

't sleep t

----------

NA

down the next morning, holding two coffee

He offered me a cup. "I took a g

had bought me coffee in... I

you know?

ed if I'm going to recruit you for chari

ng, I almost smi

it, because Julian's idea of charity is writing checks and leaving." Nate gestured toward the door. "Ha

r the office at dawn without a word. He'd barely

," I

lent. I know a place with th

ace I'd dreamed about going when I was planning my Boston escape. Nate order

ery boring, rich people eating expensive food while cong

ow

raining, legal aid. Real programs with real impact.

tightened.

a damn about something other than stock prices." He paused. "And because

ld you

subject and pretending he hadn't." Nate's expression was knowin

ut into mine, the small domestic n

ou need from

gram partnerships. He asked my opinion on everything. Actually wa

h discussing sponsorsh

awareness that mea

oked

suit from the office, his expression unreadable. His eyes l

ze and grinned. "Ju

our table in three strides.

ur wife for charity work." Nate ges

a 10 o

ave forty-f

ed in his grey eyes, something I c

ked me anything that sounded

said q

eared. His knee brushed mine under the table and h

an listen, really listen, to the proposals for survivor programs. His face revealed nothing, but his fingers ta

rst words in ten minutes. "Shelters

But coming from Ju

. "I have a meeting. Lena, Thurs

ka

Julian on the sh

rst time since the night he'd told me not t

coffee. I stared at m

charity work if you don't

ant

asive. I don't want y

Do you not want me

ened. "I didn

t are you

in. "I'm saying you should do whatever

und the coffee cup hard enoug

y when Cassie tried to contact me and couldn't. The order I n

ome here?" I a

bruptly. "I ha

turned back. "The charity work. It'

before I co

and warm coffee, trying to un

joy your breakfast date, sis? Does your husband kno

, despite the r

hook as I

ll idling at the curb outside. He was watchi

il I stood and walk

did his ca