The Billionaire's Cousin

ke fire, but they were nothing c

he distant hum of New York's bustling nightlife surrounded me-cars honking, laughter spilling from nearby bars, music blasting from dista

as my body screamed in protest. My husband's cruel word

re nothing without me, and you kn

throat like an invisible noose. I clenched my teeth, blinking rapidly

my phone and pressed the only n

voice hoarse, my hands shaking so b

ng. Tw

le

was my best friend-the only person who had ever truly cared about

ignoring me? Had my husb

nt ice crawlin

trying to stop the violent trembling that wracked my frame. Just hours ago, I had been a prisoner in my own home, enduring yet another night o

something insid

t take it

un. I had

needed a place to go. But where? I had no money, no family, no friends I could turn to. My

out, but I wa

much life. Yet, no one noticed me. People walked past, wrapped up i

ed out, my fingers brushing against the rough brick

ing to p

here.

to stay upright,

screeching tires cu

at the curb. The back door swung open with a slow, deliberat

werful.

the streetlights, I re

ny Ph

nough to send chills

trolled more of this city than the mayor himself. His presence was ov

looking r

ression unreadable. He didn't move, didn't speak,

had no idea why he was here or what he wanted, but

ody woul

Trapped bene

ehind him-one of his men, no

me like I was some kind of puzzle he was trying to figure out. Then, as if ma

ainst the wall, my pulse a

ow, smooth, but there was an undercurr

n't a

oul

the torn fabric of my dress, to the swelling o

a

-" My voice cracked.

ightened.

e of fear wa

th people like me. If he was asking questions, it

ted so

move. I turned, my breath coming in short g

step before a strong hand

, my bod

m-unmovable. "You won't make it through the

eth. "I can take

"Is that so?" His gaze dropped to

were scraped raw from when I had fal

pulling out a crisp white handkerchief. Without a wor

in a shar

pected. Not cruel. No

h

omeone feared, someone rut

from," he said, his voice quiet, "but I know what

oat ti

ve nowhe

e kne

d. I should have pushed him

e was looking at me like I was more than ju

into my hand, his fingers brushi

d at hi

Because you n

ust maybe-h

ent before I took a shaky

the u

he dar

man who could eit

down

CONTIN