a P

e tablecloths were heavy linen, and the water glasses were never empty. Caleb pulled out

ut always as a silent accessory on Duke's arm, ignored and invisible. To be he

have sensed

dlelight, "when we tried to 'cook' that squirrel over a camp

out of my shoulders. "We almost burned down

ith a wave of his hand. "The

I haltingly described my vague ambitions to learn about finance, to build something of my own. He didn't laugh o

time in years,

estaurant opened, and a blast of

froze o

as t

lake and Jos

ut of the room. Jossie was a slash of crimson at his side, wearing a slinky red dress

nk, to slide down in my seat

la

landed on our table. On me. O

opped

held a cold indifference, were now burning with something dark and prim

egistered a flicker of shock, then a flash of sharp, venomous je

evaporated, leaving a ch

h was warm and steady, an anchor in the sudden s

or shifted. The easy-going charm vanished

Jossie to their table, a route th

roached, Ca

Alpha Blake," he said, his voice carrying just enough to be

lamb that has strayed from the fold. I felt my throat tighten, my lungs s

partially blocked Duke's line of sight to me. He rested a

inued, his tone breezy but his eyes hard as flint. "This is Kyla Dalton. She's exc

apital. It was a clear, unmistakable message.

fixed them on Caleb. "Sterling... Capital," he bit out, the name tasting like pois

ve me a brittle smile. "Kyla, how wonderful f

was almost impressive. It was also like throwing ga

e shot Caleb a look of pure Alpha warning-a si

o," he c

nd, her eyes raking over me with a look of reassessment and renewed

rried after

I slumped back in my chai

s own smile gone.

is voice dangerously quiet.

flinched as Duke slammed his men