couldn't deny how shaken she was w

w from the nightstand lamp casting a golden

t, and the once-passionate room filled with heated moan

s she inspected Luca's suit, crumpled on the floor. Sh

caught her attention. She pu

DeLor

er 29,

al

side. Only a few cards

She should've never don

y ached to stay in his arms, to linger in h

st a one-ni

ind of love Aria

unce of courage, she

k on t

ar over his head as the morn

ou call

ark-skinned bodyguard with a sha

d the woman's

last night, her manager said Aria was only filling in for her friend, Gracie. Oth

ght subs

ast night had m

up to find the bed beside him cold and empty left him rattled. His wa

wasn't a

ghtstand. He waved Dorothy

Grandf

s the

below, the bustle of New York City

party. I think she alter

rriage agreement I made wit

d focused on nothing but the vengeance bu

don't need to force me into some cont

he deal. You want my help taking down Jazz, t

f underground dealings, everything had a pric

orry. I won't ne

could say another wor

e room slowly see

hadn't been

rse moans echoing in his ea

might've ju

w exactly wh

e'd ever touched, only

n... would be

shift. I'm seriously l

gh the windows. The dull ache still pulsed inside her, but ev

a small sip of her drink

id you... were approache

ps nervously. "N-no

, I know. Well, that was actually

ally host parties li

ot all of them are respectable. Plenty are just..

ld say anything

nown n

kin, but she didn't wan

k," Aria stood and stepped out

of her student's parents. So

el

ri

r end. Aria's neck stiffened. A chill

e Hu

while-because she ha

you, I'll pay

I don't know

a f

nt of the café, passersby came and went, indiffer

dings and rooftops..

g or I swear I'll go to the police!"

afé, Gracie rushe

are you okay?

e needed to escape the choki

ng... just

wn said otherwise. "

. And that silen

comes up, you get like this. Let's just avoid trouble for no

so grateful for a

leaning into her be

to my place." Gracie loo

gesture, a sudden pain stabb

's wr

ast night-how Luca had plunged into her so

's no

u s

d nodded. Gracie smile

r of Uncle Hudson, Aria was s

being hunted by

here w