go of

running fro

alley. Not rough, but not gentle either. His suit looked

are

with a

. "If this is from Lucien, tel

. If he had, you would

t beat

said again, l

at. I stumbled back

rous man in Manhattan," he said. "And

the tip, cre

into his co

onto the ground between us. "When you're ready to stop play

's in

ons. Depends on how far

t up. By the time I straightene

Who a

houlder. "The guy who

the corner an

___

isappe

to the penthouse. I didn't even get the door

r the warm

e wer

air." I repl

ip. You don't get to vanish in this city

't pret

ere fo

sed.

held up a blurry photo. M

d me fo

tected. There'

's done behi

closer. "Did

chin. "Why d

id, I'll put him

me an e

w locked. "

get to de

vy

N

us blinked. I pulled the envelope ou

more questions. Depending

d it before I

not open

't nee

ok like you already

walked toward the fir

n't even

threats to know wh

afraid of me k

m n

r ugly truth. But maybe I want to see it. May

at I've shown

it's ca

hing I

er. "Even th

ly this m

ens when the ca

e that was the stupides

wo

you be

r failed at anythi

lly beli

the luxury o

he same air. He looked at me like he wa

be

e alley said yo

flinch. "He'

re not de

for a hero. You

it be

n my w

want to marry into

dy signed

urned just like

let you walk

to control me, I'll

urved. "I a

until the air between us

front doo

didn'

g someone

N

pulled up the security

mach f

was

. In th

a sui

for th

napped as the elevator open

pale and shivering in her hoodie. The concier

ickly. "I asked for you. Th

sed to be at

harged

u w

needed to see you.

front of her.

ing. Said you missed a payment. Then he asked

od wen

't from

lized that

levator behind me. His eyes

ng upstairs

ot stayi

your

ce is your wo

nk. "Then mak

to Mia. "

cien followed. No one spoke unt

at man was," I said th

orking

r. This is

l have twenty-four-

ng her life i

ping her

us. "What exactly h

dn't a

rangement. One tha

es. "Does this arra

ed surviva

the bar. "I'll ha

hungry,"

ill be

n. "You're turning this into

protection. This is

ust take ove

dy a target. N

before he could op

the man at the hospita

didn't

somethin

lk until I

n ge

try

said, raising

this time. "He's escalating. I didn

w that

end

not the

only one

en maybe I shouldn'

lready

hands were shaking. My

n Mia s

r

le of the living room

ph

was

mpl

wasn'

of our

cien'