th–Vance Penthou

oing to the g

It echoed through the penthouse kitche

ven look up fro

xcus

not going. Cancel

eper?" She lifted her eyes. Ice. Challenge. "

ng's security repor

re this time." He pointed. "They disabled the hallway camer

, taking a sip. "I let

epped closer.

s sharp. Sex

get to tell m

one's aiming lase

ent hun

is fury. The way he went feral

was his

inishing her drink. "Keep me locked u

ink this

like you did last night,

aw fl

in a heartbeat, pinning her bod

t again,"

me," she

gasped as he angled her head ba

t to bury you in silk and bullets and make

said. "But don't a

ala together anyway. Cameras flashed. T

k exposed, every inch of her post

ht, scanning the exits, watching t

im?" she asked

ot y

're pa

anoid," he sai

"W

thinks they can t

, startled by the

s?" she

is is over,

ck, a waiter brushed too

o her bar

an by the collar, slamming him back agai

ute?" Leo hissed. "Acc

sir, I

fist c

beside him and

Eno

a wire," L

e floor. A small blac

hone.

blood r

car, Leo d

nd hers. Protective. Despe

ill for me

out hes

"W

w. Vulnerable in a w

ne's ever prote

between th

feeling wanted," sh

want you,

oked a

need

sed him

it wasn'

aring. Like pee

like he'd drow

poured wine while Leo sh

ed nu

mess

ing in the wr

followed. A f

click

lickered. Fo

lo

est f

of Amelia's p

ed "Merger B: Private

whispered. "N

t, towel arou

hen he saw

t happ

the screen

de," she whispered. "But it

ho i

roke for th

Chl

uldn't be

y. She stood frozen in the center of the penthouse, si

en still

l towel-clad, water dripping from

ow what

esn't ma

erms, Amelia. That file never left your

. Before all this started." Her li

s from her finger

know why s

this game works. You don't take lever

racked on t

oved

ord and I'll

s left of the deal and the press will eat it alive. Chloe

his damp hair, the musc

e play it

ke a sister

t she's playing at befo

ing her face in her hands. For the first time sinc

idn't

nothing, just placed a

g minute, s

ect. Loyalty doesn't exist. Love is

t eve

rade me," she

" he said, voice rough

r than anything else.

to trust you,"

oo l

look

s when the

shor

both

ension coile

u order a

"N

ect an

elia swallow

beneath the kitchen island. He

without

answer t

door open just

as C

Mascara smudged. Sh

here?" Her vo

do you

o talk to h

out w

Her voice broke. "Somethi

r a long beat, the

our

r fingers clenched t

h

t her

looked around like she expe

t," she said immediately. "

" Amelia said. "From my locked archiv

shaking her head.

" Leo asked,

it was to p

He

face t

ve him the file, he'd lea

o. Ch

ice dr

a Kane's

le

e met Ame

your f

d, voice sharp. "T

n," Chloe whispered. "He just d

say anything f

It's your father echoing in her sk

w locked in place. But her eyes tho

asked finally. Her vo

d, wringing

t know it was him at first. But the voice. The phrasing. I've worked

turned

ing her. Already bra

aid softly, to

meli

said

osed it. She nodded, slowly, ey

r click

hick and s

't move. Di

over to the bar cart, poured herself a g

epped

have to hold

es,

t wit

oke som

trembled. Her

hispered. "How to win. How to lead

eyes glassy with somet

me how to survive

oved

wor

first time since she was a child, Amelia

use she

s tired of bei

slid up

essed again

t try to

st he

" he said. "Even

at p

tight, wrapped in everythi

ink I h

Leo said gently