Beneath His Wrath

around. Jus

the gleaming floor, echoing in time with her thudding heart. She wore a deep emerald gown, satin hugging her curves and modest in design, but elegant enough to blend wi

er return to this world, the one she had once belonged to, t

lute of champagne from a passing waiter. She turn

e walk

on C

d-shouldered and tall, dressed in a classic black tux that did nothing to hide the sinew and power beneath, he moved with lethal grace. His square jaw

ted away. Ten years had passed, but t

ow, weaving through laughing donors and bejeweled s

org

ped around steel. And sti

mbs to remain calm, unaffected. "We

akes on

. It was the kind of smile a ma

lready gesturing toward the

he did. He always read her better than anyon

you're

. But she was terrifie

she n

oler, lined with mirrors that stretched to the

wall, arms crossed, watc

gia. No correction.

out here for flatter

rect. I l

narrowing. "I kn

oze. "

of you. Every step. Every city. Every change in your name. And

ned. "So this wa

do is coi

d without a trace. No letter. No explanation. And

whispered

with restrained intensity. "Because I need

. "You left me, Wes

ike a whip. "You think walking away from you was easy? God,

snapped. "Why di

ed. Something flickered in h

tayed... you would'

he stepped back, maski

morrow. We'll ta

shoul

. "Because you still wear

e she could stop herself, fingers brus

said ev

t halfway down the corridor be

on't walk a

ng beneath her skin. "Yo

thing to offer. Something t

your business pitches

usiness. It

eath, ground

me, G

register at first

ell did you

rd me. M

n she'd misundersto

ne s

? Some twisted

w. "No. This is about power, su

tion? F

id. For what

re in

"Probably. But hear me out. If you do

her eyes. "

Your investment

ld. "Are you thr

ng for you. Someone who won

is expression. He lo

o you

And they'll use you next. Unless yo

between th

aking sense,"

night. One conversation. If you wal

t of the past, the fear of the future, i

nig

ne

ay yes. She

ead. Because in the mirror's reflection, she sa

is composure,

sn't a

s a rec

d only ju