lise

aircase felt like a jagged piece of

e straight. I refused to let my heels scuff the polished stone. Sweat trickled down

was waiting in the cav

, dabbing at nonexistent tears with a lace handkerchief, while Sean lounged against the grand piano, nursing a glass of scotch with a triumphan

king his wrist toward a high-backed velv

of agony shot through my right flank, stealing the air from my throat. I pressed my lips toge

s familiar posture of the benevolent pa

s discipline. You represent the Roman family name in that den of criminals. Show respect. Do not antagonize Wat

urled in disgust. "You'll be living among savages. Don't let

the sharp edge of the fractured fifth rib shifting against my intercostal muscle with every pulse of my heart. I was calculating the r

chime of Gregory's iPhon

nagers not to call-" He glanced at the screen, and the color instantly drained from h

ing by an entire octave. "We are ready. My

he cadence was unmistakable: heavy, deliberate, and freezing cold. It wasn

es... yes, of course, there was a minor adjustment in the paperwork. Annel

with the brutal effi

his grip. His eyes, usually calculating and cold, dar

arrogance evaporating like mist on hot asphalt. "No,

r was dead silent. Even Sean stopped swirling his

straightening up. "

Arms." He slowly turned his head toward me, the veins on his neck bulging against his starched collar. "Watki

he clubhouse with so much as a single broken bone, the Iron Wraiths will not negoti

slipped fro

ile, splashing amber liquor across the floor. Briell

paralyzed horror, I

the chair, and forced myself to sit fully upright. I brushed the dark hai

istical problem. Because twenty minutes ago, your darling s