had shielded from the blood and the violence of my

ooked at the

d it open w

niform. Instead, she wore a tight cashmere sweater that s

the vintage Chanel drops my father had

n't b

n't s

We don't scre

y gaze bac

tenants," I said, my voice dangerously calm. "And you want to provi

nodded

he said. "We have so much, Ains

r, resting his h

oney. Dirty m

e room droppe

ud. He was happy to spend the blo

coffee down.

ual, intimate gesture that made my stomach tu

anyone who hadn't spent five yea

I sa

ed at

rrings,"

ank you, Mrs. Hicks. Damian gave them to me. He s

hat followed

oked at me, terror

k

had gotten comfortable. He had forgotten that the woman sitting a

too

her,"

strai

N

hung in

no to me before. N

eeds us. I need her help with the house. You are never here, Ainsley

rewrite the narrative, painting me a

. My heels clicked rhythm

d inches

llar. It mixed with the expensive cologne I bough

out her son

e was a

n fli

nother man's bloodline because y

drained

rm. His grip wa

he hissed. "Don't

ear the truth about his broken body. Abou

n at his han

ked up int

e, Damian. Or I will remind you exact