-

She pulled her robe tighter, the silk gliding over her skin like a second lie, and padded barefoot into the dini

ll, Mrs. Lancaste

eyes and took t

gerous in a way that didn't scream-it whisper

a threat wrapped in a velvet glove. And yet, he hadn't exploded. He hadn't thrown her ou

had to tread carefully. If Ares even s

arbone, where a small pendant hid the truth: a microdrive with the last

ever fou

ldn't let t

was playing. Ares didn't marry her just to neutralize a threat-he cou

ing to find ou

rently. There was a gala in New York in two weeks, and Ares expected her to

" she told the woman

ing," the stylist

dripped wealth-art that probably cost more than entire towns, chandeliers that ca

tepped into

suddenly she was standing in front of a

d a desk made of black marble. No clutter. No wa

as a tablet,

hesi

tepped

ai

es, real estate reports. But one

: Un

ct: R

She's not ju

invo

. And look ben

ood turne

recent. Twenty

otsteps sound

rned-t

No tie. Shirt unbuttoned

y. "That you can't stay out of

chin. "Your d

e open. Doesn't m

looking fo

row. "Then why do

lowed. "

of something crossed his fac

t to ask ques

snapped. "A ring, a cage

. Closed the door behind

d a chance to walk out of this

. "You think you'

now

short and shar

rward, eyes bu

o wants that driv

le

mouth w

k

k

oward her necklace,

ong ha

"You're not subtle, Isla. You're beau

back. "Then

close is the only w

and fell with s

nk I'm a

is head. "I think

wh

dn't

gently brushed his fing

t in

idn't

o me," he

N

ound the pendant. Not

we'll keep pla

let

d his

the room witho

, Isla cou

e ocean's endless breath, and r

ething. Something buried deep in whatever D

eded a

ing to get them b

down the hallway toward the east wing. That was where his

ad overheard staff say he kept physical files

ched th

the

ock

ipped

oss the room through slatted blinds. She moved quickly

-pho

fr

re photo

re

l

protest three years ago. One with her sister ou

he hav

ind her mad

oor in the r

was standi

Ar

wo

le. Eyes wide

woman lunged forward, clutche

The drive is a map. D

hind them s

stood

in h

scr