ace. Aria stared at it, the springs of the mattress digging into h

er father. Ten from Julian. Twelve fr

ght, and opened her laptop. The screen glowed in the dim room, illumina

e Young

d full access to the principal sum of five million dolla

er financial survival depended on finding a husband. Her father had cut her off

laptop. She n

r East Side, the kind of place where the floor stuck to your shoes and the air smelled of stale beer and b

weatshirt up. She didn't look lik

key, neat. The che

nding her. She scanned the room. It was mostly empt

looked like it had survived a war, the elbows worn smooth and grey. His dark hair was me

He looked broke.

't waiting for anyone. He had the posture of a man carrying

e gulp. The alcohol gave her

to his booth, tr

te him. When he did, Aria felt her breath hitch. His

his voice was deep

ed money?"

er of his mouth tw

g her hands on the table to stop them from shaki

r. He looked at her hoodie, then down to her hands, noting the p

said. It wasn't a question. "The one

"And yes. I'm her. Which means you know I have

ed at the smudge on his cuff, then back at

can pay off your debts. I can fund you

t the cuff.

" she said. "A retainer of five thousa

y sound. "Fifty thousand. Yo

d. "And you look like you do

rrowing slightly. For a second, he looked dangerous. Predatory. B

prenup,"

inked.

f we split, we walk away with what we came wi

ed she would take his easel? "Fin

ows who I am or where I live. You

ck of cash-the last of her savings. Two thousand dollars. "This

ey, then at her. He

or the license. I'm not worried ab

aller than she expect

" he said, ex

lm was calloused, wa

ight thirty," Harland

her heart hammering against her ribs. She pulled out her p

ried to

a sleek, black phone from his

ssage to his

tandard Wheeler protocol. I