pocket. A text message from her landlord: URGENT. Someone bribed night security. Tryi

slammed against her ribs. The only though

ght air burned her lungs. Police would mean questions. Reports. Her identity, her care

ted a sickening crunch of torture

t, her chest heaving, her eyes wild with panic an

in front of the broken door, becoming a human shield. Her

cket. "Mr. Carlisle is prepared to compen

calling the police was worse. There was only one w

go. But your men leave. Now

elevator opened onto the penthouse. Vivian

o open and shut. Kara was curled on the sofa, looking pale and victi

condescending amusement. "The great Dr. Vivia

was not bought. I was abducted by your thugs. There is a diff

n lik

flinch. "You are not the first rich man I have treated. You are merely the

u speak to him that way? You're supposed

ts who need it. You, from what I can see, need an audience far more than y

ushed an ugly

r voice-a razor edge beneath the French accent-that hooked into his attention and refused to

me here in the middle of the night. Your fiancée is c

ned. "My fiancée is i

ra, stopping to look down at the woman who had systematically dismantled her life

erling. "Ster, I don't w

ong moment, then nodded to Owen

tient to be partially undressed. I won't have an audience.

followed, pausing at the door. "I'll be right outside." But his eyes lingered on Vivian fo

rdened. "I know what this is. You're attracted to him. Ever

wife, who had divorced her on their anniversary. "Your romantic arrangements are of

bout the car accident and shattered dreams of motherhood. Vivian listened with half an ear, her trained fingers pressing and

full medical file. Proper imaging as we

? I'm in

t won't change anything." Vivian walked to the door an

el

nd a full blood panel. I'll

t for hours, and all you can gi

he night," Vivian corrected. "I'm giving you a pr

the set of her shoulders, the way she moved through the hallway as if she owned it. As if he were the intru