Lanaya

the VIP lounge vibrate

me trapped her against the wood. His dark, toxic promise still hung in the

est rising and falling rapidly against the tight silk of her

ad seen on the press stage was completely gone, re

The sudden loss of his body heat made her shiver, though she would die before a

her legs trembling slightly. "I just lied

ne when I s

our hostage

adjusted his suit jacket. "And tonight is the Redstone charit

her veins. "So what? I have to parade around in anothe

y, his grey-blue eyes locking ont

ile. You will hold my hand. And you

because you

ecause you are

by you. There

vading her space again. He didn't touch her, b

scraped directly down her spine. "Because when I kissed you las

isted pull tightened low in he

ose to her ear. The heavy scent of cedar and pure adrenaline fl

, desperate to put distance between t

pulse point. "But I am the only thing standing between your father and b

e lounge door. The chaotic noise of

Maverick ordered without lo

gala was a glitteri

them eager to stare at the newly engaged couple. T

laying the devoted fiancé flawlessly. His thumb stroked the back of her hand, a slow,

er body's traitorous react

ps brushing her temple as a photographer sna

Alexander Hayden standing near the bar. He wasn't smili

ered, her throat tight.

s grip on her hand tightening painful

m tr

har

eatured woman in a red dress broke throu

The lead anchor for Boston Sports Network, and M

rves. She ignored Lanaya completely, resting a manicured hand o

away from Chloe's tou

ry gaze to Lanaya. "Especially considering how much you two despis

ck tense beside he

ice to remain steady. "It's passion. Sometimes

t unless he's getting something out of it. So tell me, Lanaya..." Chloe leaned in, her voice

etween them s

-cold. She opened her

dropped

ht shifting almost imperceptibly toward Chloe, his attention narrowing in that spe

was the thing

e Crew went under. Not running. Not shouting. Just that terrible stillness, the same contained quiet she could never find an explanation for, the detail that lived at the center o

ot the same as that day. She kn

that had been holding for

Maverick said, his voice terrifyingly

," Lanaya

e Maverick had dropped her hand. She fled because the armor had cracked in a place she hadn't known was load-bearing, and if she sta

back hit the wall and the breath finall

this for eight years. And s