behind her. The sound was

her with the loose gait of a man who had been drin

g it against her lips. "Drink. Consider it an apolog

ss, soaking the black fabric, staining it the color of o

kward. Her knees hit the edge of a low table covered in velvet. She

ones. The kind of shoes that came with a price tag and no dignity. "And give

lement. She thought of Elena's ventilator. She thought of Julian's red pen crossing out her na

side her. Or maybe

Her voice cut through the music, sh

eyond your own greed." She looked directly at Gregg. "You want a show? Go to the Met. Buy a ticket. Sit in the dark like a civilized human being and watch somethin

d the sound system. Alyssa's breathi

nt purple. He r

alling. She thought of failing. She thou

rner. The one with the predator's eye

d her eye

s the carpet and dropped to her knees at his feet, her fingers clutching t

eas

It taste

't change. But something flickered in those dar

e room. "Get up. He's n

hle

syllable. Gregg

arble. He reached out with one hand and cupped Alyssa's chin, turning her face to examin

voice was quiet, conversational. "I was lo

He didn't raise his voice. He didn't have to. The sheer, freezing weigh

held it

t-cashmere, charcoal gray-and draped it over Alyssa's shoulders. The f

he quiet, lethal authority of a man who could dismantle Gregg

feet with effortless strength and guided her toward the door. No one stopped

ed skin. Alyssa tried to shrug off the jac

ep

nst the small of her back and pushed her inside. She scrambled across the leather seat, reac

en front and back s

. Just let me out. I'll walk. I'll take

y were alone. Cornell opened a compartment built int

n ar

aid

arms caging her against the door, his face inches from hers. His eyes were

repeated, "or I'

felt the cold swipe of antiseptic, the gentle pressure of a cotton p

wasn't a question. "In the corr

no ch

chose to come to me." His hand settled on her shoulder, heavy and possessive. "That was intelligent. That was s