His eyes blazed with so

ly, "wanted children more than anythi

, ignoring fur

ed to my ear. "Did you hea

she said, sounding

do that? After

t be careful, Aria. This could

I met Marcus. Three hours to decide if

a business publication: "WALTON INDUS

de me. Maybe, just maybe, the mighty Walt

estions for Marcus. If he truly had informatio

wer, and influence. But I

made me d

m fitful sleep. The bright screen pierced the darkness

declined

me out raspy, weighe

sent a shock through my

hammering. The last pers

ause I don't know why you are trying to contact me during

voice was low, urgent. "I ne

e fog from my brain. "Why would I me

you changes everything." A

like a slap. I grip

liste

The coffee shop on Wi

dead before I

-

, back to the wall, eyes on the door. Two exits are visible. My ne

vigated between tables. His typically immaculate appearance was rumpled-tie as

ble," I said, s

server approached, then waited until she was out

are you

ed for the Waltons for fifteen years

ed his coffee. Mar

Michael's corporate secrets to

en us. I blinked, tr

ady gnawed at me. Jessica had always been a

hdrew a flash drive, and slid it ac

device like it might b

er-he works in R&D. They've been funneling proprietary information abou

mmediately. Apex was Halg

you fin

ed forward, voice dropping. "She didn't just stumble into Michael's bed, Aria. This wa

ined their betrayal a thousan

e in her corporate espionage sc

ter the last round of fertility treatments failed." Marcus finally took a sip of his coffe

Mil

algate for three years. Placed ther

ing I thought I knew. "Does Mich

n..." He hesitated. "He's been a wreck since you left. His

after I found him with

arcus's voice hardened. "But you d

ound the flash drive. "

made mistakes-big ones. But you made him better." He laid money on the table for

ou should know. Jessica's been pushing for a position on t

ate access to every

ria. The stakes in this game

alm. My sister hadn't just stolen my husband. She'd orchestrat

from Samantha: *You OK? You

the words to explain the hurrican

I needed air, needed to think. Clutching the flas

dow lowered just enough to reveal Elizabeth Walton's cold eyes fixed on me. She

led up. The ca

palm where I'd clenched it too tight. The game had

Samantha, more urgent

*Coming back. Need to

very certainty I'd clung to these past weeks had been a lie. Jessica

w I ha

: what was I goi