the faint glow of a chandelier above her. Soft, golden light spilled across the room's high ceilings, glinting off polishe

d painfully when she realized her arm was cuffed a thin leather strap fa

in. Not ano

raped in dark velvet, a fireplace crackling gently, a massive king-size bed that felt more like a throne than somewhere to sleep. The walls we

terly. A wolf's den for a gi

heavy footsteps approached. The man from the alley stepped into the l

slacks that clung to long, powerful legs. A single ring glinted on hi

rced her voice to work. "What is t

oured water into a crystal glass, then carried it to her. He didn't sit

t it like it mi

k," h

ot thi

aking through his icy mask. "You haven't ha

e tiny flecks of silver in his blue eyes. "I didn't go throug

h, her voice cracking. "You call this

a look so sharp she

a taste for girls half his age," he said fla

ike it branded her skin. "And wh

k to her eyes. Something unreadable flickered there reg

d quietly. "You're an asset. And yo

now my name?"

asking, lifted the glass to her lips. When she tried to turn away, he

he orde

was cool, soothing her parched throat as she took small, careful sips. H

nally released her chin. He leaned back, studyin

gain, her voice softer now

"You don't need to

w mine. That

cold. "Fair? Little butterfly, the world stoppe

. Did he see her birthmark when he grabbed her? Did it mean anything

g to muster the steel she'd learned to fa

gh a sound that made her stomac

grace that made her shiver. As he walked to the door, s

n the doorknob. H

you can

n he wa

e empty room, kicked the pillows onto the floor. No one came. When exhaustion finally claimed her, she fe

- a polite, hesitant tap that was the com

opped in messy, windswept, like he'd just run through a storm. Hazel green

hello

white shirt and ripped jeans. He looked like a boy who'd stumbled into a mansi

ed. "Who

his chest. "I'm hurt. Ethan didn

row furrow

s my brother. He likes to pretend he doesn't have a heart, but don't wor

d, her voice so smal

a soft click. "Don't worry, sweetheart. No one'

ing the blanket could swallow her whole. "

briefest moment. He sat on the edge of

than found out, and he hates human trafficking scum more than he hates s

you call this?" She held up her wrist, th

y to run last night. And if you run again, the guys who

t. Hated that she felt safer cuffed to a bed in a str

..." He leaned in conspiratorially, lowering his voice like they were school kids shari

Almost. "Why are yo

e you look like you haven't had a reason

one ever noticed that before. Not Jo

re you hungry? I make killer scrambled eggs. Or I can order sushi. Or we can

ll and rusty, but real. Lucas's grin widened

e said softly. "T

es tighter. "What

rand of her red hair behind he

get to eat real food. You get to be

the lump in her t

ng green. "And then, Red? We'll figure out how to bur