well stepped aside,

hand, the light from the screen carving dark lines across his features. Sophia sat next

their project. But his abrupt resignation was more t

utting h

ported to was about to take

ted as he reached

you have

ed some of Caldwell's communications. He's been in touch with

aned forw

f paus

nt Car

stomach

corporate power players. He didn't work in the limelight like Ethan; he did it in the shad

than I thought,

her pulse pounding.

s darkened.

out Montgomery Enterprises its

n a direction Carlisle didn't like, he was pushing back the o

er teeth. "We ca

er, an unreadable look on

g astonishing and unquen

onger just Et

s her

lding mirroring the storm swirling in the city. Sophia hadn't

ng home with

inked.

. "I don't believe you're g

. "Ethan, I'm

." His voice was low, sha

they've come after my brother. You th

ed being ordered around

to the lobby, past the private el

nsion in her bones the m

sn't only a

s about

elusive with E

a welcome change from

ws was of the glittering skyline, sleek mod

ul, but remote

nd tilted the top buttons of his s

, gazing out at the city below. "

d up beside

pressure. The power str

in a voice so low that she almos

ly, her heart racing. "

"Because if I don't, somebo

ng came unstuck in t

movable. But standing here, in the hush of his penthouse, with the grav

as a

who wa

ad been alo

and and gently ran her fingers al

 constricted. His

the world

around her waist and pulling her against him.

lips crashed

It wasn't carefu

ked fire. His hands reached up her back, pulling her close

were no power plays. No

was ju

velop any further, Eth

d to hers. "This...

holding him. "All of it

kled hoars

s phone

erself as he sca

darkened

it?" sh

ng his jaw. "It's a message.

d. "Coordinat

toward her. The message

lone.

on appeare

blood r

trap," sh

dded. "P

ed. "Then you'

the corners of Ethan's lips.

arm. "Ethan, t

y, but his eyes were ablaze. "And

arply. "Then let

e snapped t

th

the tone commanding. "You're too necessary i

complete th

aw it in

chest t

was not a man t

ow she'd gott

ard. "Promise m

ng her face as his thum

romi

know whether

or the first time, walking into

ng him was a risk sh