it owned the boulevard. Ariel hesitated before stepping out, eyes m

tion letter. Elena had been furious, reminding her of her son's he

asses, taking a steadying breath. Behind her, Johnny stepped out with all the boldn

ow and amused. "No one's going to bite

just not ready to c

. "You're about to walk into you

ered, stepping toward the door. "A

ushed the door open for her. The soft ring of the entranc

rances and freshly sown designer clothing. Th

t the woman who stood before her. Her smile froze, then melted into

air tighten a

pink suit, and that nasty look she gave her every time. The kind

Ariel said wit

en back. "This isn't lost and fo

?" Johnny said coolly, sliding his su

o the elite only, people who swim in money. Not just anyone can shop

ghten, but Johnny only c

hly. "Then we'll buy out

ed. "I beg

l as ice, "We'll take everything in her

p but laugh. "You'

Johnny asked, straightening h

utting on; she couldn't bring herself to understan

ou playing?~ She questioned inwardly, then

n arm around her waist, pulling her close. "I'm also her husb

drained her blood through her emerald

yes gleaming. "You never know what gold l

f wine and vanished like a ghost down the hall. Ariel tu

I did. No one tal

rd. "Even if it'

her face as if trying to read something unspoken. "Maybe," he

r the first time in years, she didn'

, Across

penthouse. He was looking down at the

frozen video frame

ars ago. The woman from six years ago. The one who dis

d his whiskey glass. "She's alive,"

leaned forward. He was lean, balding,

screen. "I've traced her back to Barcelona, but her records

response to the shock, and his gaze slowly shi

ll there i

lancing at his notes. "To one Mr.

hand and shattered on the floor w

window. "She's married?" he repeated it over

how long but from recor

ulse thundere

," he muttered. "She was mine

"I can dig deeper. Surveillance re

. "Find out everything. Where she lives. Who she s

s s

ser to Ariel as a team of sales girls ga

d. "Power looks good o

her more-the power he wielded, or the

across the city, a man with the same blood

ncover who her husband was. Only