Pittm

imed the quarter hour as I came downstairs

table had long since gone cold, the tallow candles

sary had ended while Kian

near the arched doorway, wringing he

untouched plate and turned the plain

ike a band of ic

rs," I said. "I have so

ed and hurr

te footsteps descended the staircase

m, still wearing the black shir

immediately sucked t

ance for the silver platter

n the corner and poured two fingers of s

collar remained locked at the highest se

ll get you anywhere, you're mistaken," he

my plain knit sweater and bar

performance,"

t on the table, his forehead

. I'm not going to apo

e down here f

s paused inches

s neck pulling taut as his knuckles

eaking things and threatening

s," I said, meeting his frigid g

ee years ago," Kian said coldly, setting the glass d

king down from his immens

raced branch of the Pittman family. The Hurley name g

esigned to strip

t have left me

d the pathetic blindness of t

led the city, was nothing more than a fool d

aid softly. "I fina

envelope I had brough

and slapped it down right

nvelope, his brow furrowi

is t

ou were forced to marry me," I repl

a short, mo

ers, untwined the red string clasp, and

tered header at the top of the first

ETTLEMENT

my signature at th

oom stretched until

of his hand bulged as his grip

locking onto mine with an inten

laying now, Ayleen?" he ground out, h

es, enunciating every single

ian. I am di

storm flared

the contract in both fists and tore the thi

the torn pages

air like winter frost, scattering