voice sharp with suspicion. "Y

nse of him pure instinct, even as a flicker of the sa

aned closer to Chloe, his voice a low mur

e sting of tears threa

r antagonists. His tone remained placid, but it now carried an undertone of st

ective than any angry retort. Vi

hings over. "Chloe, we didn't mean any h

d, her composure returning. "We're just concerned for her. So,

smile touched Julian's lips. "

major brand on the Eastern Seaboard. She knew the industry inside and out-the names, the faces, the hierarch

"A very small, niche company. You've prob

anded like

, the bespoke division of Montgomery Holdings that answered to no one but billionaires and heads of state. Every car was a commissioned masterpiece, every client vetted like a head of state. Victoria had attended

e-and felt the ground shift beneath her feet. It couldn't be. It was absurd. And yet, the way he ha

as, but she saw Victoria's face drain of color, saw the way her perfectly glossed lips parted and

ous. "King Motors. That's... an exclusive company. My family has had dealings with them." She paused, her eyes nar

smile still playing at the corner of his mouth

members who had lived long enough to stop caring about her last name-but never like this. Never by a man in a faded hoodie standing in the bedding aisle of a discount store. The insolence

rrents, cleared his throat. "Technical se

ce gentle again, as if Brad hadn't spoken at

ed her away, leaving Brad and Victoria standing stiff

at just happened, but he knew Victoria, and he had never seen her look at anyone the way

d, or the truth. And she did not believe in coincidences. If Chloe Hayes had somehow stumbled into a connection with Montgomery Holdings, Victoria needed to kno

ed out h

loe couldn't contain her c

ere I consult," Julian said, th

planted. She had seen Victoria's face. She had watched a woman who thrived on belittling others freeze mid-