Her Vicious Art, His Dark Obsession

an to be your lawfu

t drifted through the thick, bulletproof

n at the manicured lawn

in custom Vera Wang, surrounded by a sea o

itioning hummed like

echoed in the hallway. Lea

idn't spike. Her

ing a live cryptocurrency ticker-deep into the slit

through her hair, tangling the da

he single armchair by the window, pull

eathing to turn s

her eyes onto the carpet, draining them of all l

door clicked a

Two private security guards flanked him, their e

ay. On it sat a tiny pape

," Alistair said. His voice was flat, d

back against

p her throat. She trembled, her shoulders s

The textbook reaction of a de

blink. He gave a

d, their massive frames block

ed a violently

p. She grabbed the two heavy sedati

oth hands, spilling a little do

ongue up," Ali

yn ob

ity. Satisfied that the pills w

filed out

. The deadbolt slid into place

ck engaged, the t

sharpened int

to her knees in front of the porcelain toilet

mach co

ars pricking the corners of her eyes as h

lls splashed into the toilet wa

nd stood up, her chest h

tap and splashed freezi

e sink, her knuckles turning bone-

ad eyes. A ghost ha

outh with the b

ornia sun beat down on the ed

af off a manicured hedge and c

limited-edition sneakers that c

hated golden anniversa

gonizingly boring party next door,

ow, barely noticeab

ssed the property line into th

ter from his pocket. The metal

ch, a burst of radio stati

fro

guards in black tactical gear we

their leashes, heading

Etienne's

ience to deal with tre

k decryption fob from his pocket-a military-grade tool courtesy of his syndicate's tech division. He pressed it against the electronic lock of a heavy steel ma

that swallowed his footsteps. The air smelled

ckets and walked deeper into the unfam

bolt on Katelyn's

ir, wrapping her arms around her

orway, dripping in diamonds and a

atelyn like she was

maids behind her. "Chelsea wants that landsca

ept her h

" she whispered, her

sweater, her fingernails dug so hard i

ly yanked Katelyn up and forced a lif

meant to make

d her out of the room, treating

in the shadows of a grand staircase,

owing a stream of smoke tow

rifted up to the se

his gaze locked onto a girl in a dull gr

fragile. Pa

er, one of the maids pus

yn st

ad sna

a second, the terr

e's through the smo

eath caught

nadulterated rage. It was the look of a predator locked in a ca

to place. She lowered her head

ok the cigarette

mirk spread ac