a.m. when I felt t

ry-silent, unmoving, and far too proud to admit when something was off. But I coul

one that overlooked the main drive, and watc

art d

u

of reckless charm masking all the fury that simmered underneath. A charcoal coat bill

changed.

the front door, he was

le

chest like a memory I

"You shouldn'

off. Ignored every call. Then I see a tabloid photo of you wearing h

t you think,"

in it," he

er, another voice c

owe you any

th tu

dressed in black, sleeves rolled to his

een the two

ched. "I'm not

descending the stairs slowly. "Yo

re for

er outside. And

en them. "Stop

d at me. "Yo

d. "He let

n nodded once and walked away, his prese

hat the hell is

away from the security came

protect my fathe

ened. "Protect

ar. From everything th

idn't recognize the person

ve a choice,

y breath. "Do

lin

he said, voice cracking

using him too?"

. "You don't

n't a

take you aw

d. "It's not that

e word and we're gone. I'll get you

what it felt like to be loved without strategy or

" I said.

ace fell

ething does

om at the end of the

ain is too precise

'm not sure who the

-

e the

the security

eyes glassy. His hands shaking wit

lf a drink but

ly. "Shall I escort

aid. "Let him

ted. "That's

et's see what kind of man

the g

She's starting to see the

ut

ed if I let her f

-

t N

was a

able like a live wire. I sat in the middle, flanked by two men wh

e

b and saffron rice.

you live? A fortress in Monaco. Guards in

dom always has a cost. You of

hat's

idn't leave min

r thic

watch her rot in th

"Luckily, you won'

bruptly.

n fell

between you two," I snapped. "Figure out

ed. "Too lat

orme

-

a

om. My fingers ghosted over t

ay?" he

ou need to l

I know yo

," I said. "Not in

. "Then what's r

wing. It's locked. Damien won't talk about it. But Ana

fened. "A

odd

" I said. "No one

hink he h

But I'm going

hand. "Then I

time in weeks, I

-

dn

state

ca trailing behind. We reached the black d

pick locks now?

I've had ti

icked

ng gone. Dresses still hanging. A journal on the dresser

l. Her name-Tatiana-wa

nk she left,

rimly. "I thi

left his mouth, we h

ldn't be

mi

rned

adable. But his k

o open that door,

her?" Luca

cked to him, then

re is she

broke. "Sh

le

dding," he said. "And my father sent

know wh

e left a note. Said she cou

ce was

as unworthy. That everyt

"That's why you

ison," he said, eyes

rward. "If you ever

But she needs to decide w

d and wa

-

That

ldn't

he balcony, sta

arby," he said.

odd

le

ea

eful wi

a

"I mean... wi

n't a

w it was alre