ra's

at a table

orty min

versary party. Now h

hroat raw from silently rehearsing the ultimatums I pl

as t

n, his hand fir

an

in an oversized cashmere s

ed to be talked down from her episode and tuck

t. A flicker of guilt crossed his face when

aid, his gaze sliding past my sho

ed at

tear-streaked smile tha

a," she whispered. "I just... I

e breadbasket, and

a silk scarf tie

pe the kidnappers had used

igger. She al

dressed like that?" I

gasped as if realizing

God!" s

back, her h

lass of Americano the waiter

spill; it arced, a wave of heat

n my throat. The heat seared my skin lik

" Matteo

dn't reac

ting, screaming that the bl

his arms, murmuring to

look at me, breat

y white silk dress, the delic

s intense,

d to the dull, familiar ac

sensation p

onths

through a thunderstorm becau

e to entertain the

Russians to salvage a deal

ch had torn. It had ta

er with the Bolshoi because my body was too

d it a sacrifice

gainst the floor, shattering th

ze finally landing on the angr

said, with a note of abs

aving,"

bed my

teo started, but Bianca let out a

teo! Please! The men

ed at her,

aid, his voice hardening. "I'll

my back

aurant, the cold night a

ne and dialed a num

," I

ssa? What

. "The eighteenth time. I can't do this

greeted

re?" he ask

in the dark window. "This will be the