Claimed By My Ex's Ruthless Brother

of The Carlyle's top floor. It was muffled by a door left

n her hand. The Patek Philippe box-cool and heavy, a

th's room. And that was not her v

m. A thank you, before the chaos of their engagement party tomorrow. The watch nestled inside its velvet cradle was meant to say everything she felt about the life

arpet, pulling her toward the sound. Ea

st a few inches. An invitatio

e crack, s

embrace she recognized all too well-but with someone else. Someone whose voice

ned across his pillows. Pillows Gisell

dra

est f

f a life that was already over. Each muffled sound from the bedroom struck her like a physical blow, knocking the air fro

nneth's voice, ro

rmula from her uncle, it's ov

d away the possibility of tears settled in its place. Her hand trembled as it du

ra.

ye. The screen filled with the two of them-the grotesque

that was suddenly, grotesquely obvious. "And you have

an anchor. She held the phone steady, recording every word, ever

form

ey, it was worthless. Her uncle had the data, but only

out of the suite, pulling the door shu

lid down to the floor. The Patek Philippe box sat on the

floral pattern of the carpet-an intricate design

rd the elevators. Near the elevator bank, she saw a trash can. She took the gift box-the one for Kenneth, th

New York night, hailed a cab, and gave the

imson

t. She ordered another. And another. The alcohol didn't numb the pain-it held it at a distance,

cigars and bad intentions. "A pretty thing like you shouldn't

clamped around his wrist. The m

e very air around him, bending the dim light and the quiet murmurs of the lounge to his

aid. The words were quiet.

mbled away, swallowed by

rs tangling in the stranger's silk tie, and pulled him down toward her. "Doesn't matter w

his features. He leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. He smelled of sandalwood and som

dea who I am, futu

s to his. The kiss was clumsy, fierce, tasting of whiskey and pain. For a moment, he was still. Then his hand ca

t a word, he gathered her into his arms as if she weighed nothing at all. He carried

y scent of his cologne and the gentle sway of bein