pot in disbelief, Vincent clos

cket of his trench coat and d

to the one resting aga

a finely engraved family

ers trembled u

emotion clogging her thro

n, you were only five years old." Vincent's voice thickened with emotio

nstantly blurred

nt stepped forward and gather

ef she had buried and every wall she had

y had a

assurance. "You're safe now," he whispered. "From this day f

tered the last o

cheeks and she managed to say, "So I really have

ome home. From now on, our family will stay together

temperature in Vincent

f tenderness had hardened

d suddenly entered her life, her hea

l request echoed in her mi

pected fate to a

" she sai

crossed Vincent's

ly asked, her eyes flicking toward the

rrying an edge that felt unexpectedly da

enraged voice exploded behind the

d step outside and find Melanie

e, and all warmth vanished from his expression. "So you'

a clear look at him

criminal empire, Grim Reapers, in Auloxia. His influence stretched across continents, reac

the very pinnacle of wealth

nded no military forces, yet vast portions of th

nse-there was hardly a major indus

as enough to unsettle the e

as standing inside one of his properties

tly conne

his close left little room

ed his own conclusion. Vincen

tion for her sudden deter

n i

eing another man behi

n. Turning toward Melanie, he barked

tood immediately what Shawn was thinking

divorce. His opinion

m forbidden from moving on? And don't forget-I was the one who wa

sion darkened

, uneasy that events might not be

had overheard Melanie mention divorce and had b

before her sto

arms of a man so strikingly hand

She wasn't officially divorced yet, and she

enough for Vincent to pi

e had already uncover

ere the very ones who had to

go, M

y dark, rage swirling violently

rough the air with unq

ss seemed to descend

Vincent paused briefly but di

cted in Auloxia, Shawn had never e

s control. Yet another man was openly ta

avy with menace. "I don't care how powerful you are. If y

lack-suited bodyguards behind hi

re instantly

nie's fingers curled a

weapons and trained

in a tense standoff, ready to rea

hat Shawn's men were bluffing-they

ar today. His purpose was s

apons," Vincen

ly around Melanie's shoulders, he l

them, and the engine

swept down the boulevard

ntrance, his fists clenched unti

Melanie had vanished, while an unfamilia

n felt utter

backward glance, protected so naturally at another man's side, stirred s