he warmth from the vents did little to chase away the chill that had settled deep in Penel

en immediately lit up with a barrage of notifications. Dozens of missed call

u don't call me back, I'm going to

ought this was something to be sorted out. H

She composed a new message to him. It wasn't emotional or accusatory.

y terminated, effective immediately. All further co

oment of hesitation, she opened his contact information and pres

her, an approving glint in his dark eyes. He had b

em. His long fingers plucked the phone from her hand before she could r

ut he placed a hand on her shoulder, a firm but not u

ice low and authoritative. "Your time n

o the driver. "Change of plan

executed a smooth, seamless U-t

nce. The manager, a man with a practiced, deferential smile, was waiting for them, flanked by two assist

single black velvet tray.

erfect pink diamond, over twenty carats, cut in a classic emerald shape. It was known as "The Tear of Au

insane," she whispered. "This is not part of the deal. A sh

ked to the tray, picked up the

went down

before her on the plush carpet, the impossible diamond held between his thumb and fore

es holding an intensity that made her skin prickle. He

slid the cool, heavy ri

t per

t, impos

hand closed around hers, holding it steady. He lowered his head and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to the back of her hand, directly ov

ife of an Astor can't be seen wearing cheap stones," he said, his tone dismi

suffocating intimacy vanished. She was just a

all of her back, guiding her toward the discreet side exit. As they stepped ou

nel

it for hours. He emerged from a taxi he'd clearly just abandoned mid-block, the door still

d to see was standing ten feet away, look

ed his head slowly, regarding Tristan with the fla

here, Tristan?" Pene

opped to the diamond on her left hand, and his face contorted with disbelief. "Wha

her wrist, as if he could yank t

s could make cont

ingers closing around it with what looked like minimal effort. But Tristan's face went white. A choked, strangled

n Tristan's wrist give way

t cut through the ambient noise of Fifth Avenue. A few pedestr

s remained fixed on Penelope as he spok

ust be

s face the color of curdled milk. "You broke my wrist!" he gasped,

ng backward against the limestone facade of the building. He straigh

e," Julian said, his tone almost pl

ed shock, as if he expected her to intervene, to defend

ed at him and

tan," she said

caught the light as he raised her hand to his lips, pressing a slow, deliberate kiss to her k

ife," Julian sa

uards from Leviev had appeared at the side entrance, drawn by the commotion. One of them

turned and stumbled away, cradling his broken wrist, di

ad just eliminated a minor inconvenience. He turned to Penelope, h

er toward the waiting May