inst the tiles. She saw the empty space where Bridget usually stoo

arched straigh

d lunchbox into Gene's hands, "you will take this back to Manhattan. Alvie is

e commanding matriarch. "It's your duty as a wi

ht of seeing Alvie made her skin crawl. She opened he

eet headquarters," Donte's v

ounter. He picked up a linen napkin and slowl

me," Donte stated.

e public train back to the city as a punishment. The idea

have to-" Eleanor

r mouth. Eleanor forced a tight, bitter smile

e front doors. A massive, armored bla

took a deep breath and slid into the

n iPad in one hand, scrolling through financial reports.

m inside, cutting off the sound of the wind and the gravel. The

o the highway. The silence insi

door panel, trying to maintain a physical boundary. She didn

space between them. He noticed her pressing

ivery truck swerved vio

the brakes. The Mayb

ways. She let out a sharp gasp as she lost her balan

d. His arm shot out w

irmly around her waist, pulling her hard against

the breath out of her. Instantly, her senses were overwhelmed by the hea

ld feel the heavy, steady thud of his heart. Hi

ilized, resuming

e didn't

ist. In fact, his fingers flexed, pul

heat flushed her cheeks. She pushed her hands fl

back to her side of the seat. His eyes were dark,

is voice was a lo

sweater, her hands trembling slightly. She forc

down to the insulated lunchbox sitting on the fl

al is going to fix a broken man?" Don

him. The embarrassment vanished,

ything," Gene said flatly. "I

leaned toward her, invading her space, the sheer size

dark and dangerous, "you should make sure it

the Maybach slowed to a halt. The door was pulled open by the driver.