Saved by the Sinner

The crystal champagne flute trembled in Aria Thorne's grip.

Forty stories below, Manhattan sparkled like scattered diamonds on black velvet.

As cold and beautiful as the life she was ready to leave behind.

The annual Thorne Foundation charity gala continued below.

Orchestra music and polite laughter drifted up to mock her.

She'd escaped during her father's speech about family values-the irony almost made her laugh.

Her father's voice echoed in her mind: "Smile, darling. The cameras are watching."

They always were.

But no one had noticed the guest of honor's absence.

No one ever really noticed her at all, except to comment on how perfectly she played her part as business titan Ethan Thorne's dutiful daughter.

The October wind whipped at her emerald silk gown-her mother's favorite color.

Before she'd chosen a cliff over her family twelve years ago.

The anniversary was tomorrow. Maybe that's why tonight felt so right.

Rain had left the marble ledge treacherous.

Her designer heels slipped slightly.

Aria's heart thundered, but she didn't step back.

After months of feeling nothing but emptiness, the fear felt almost welcome.

At least it was real, unlike everything else in her life.

A particularly strong gust caught her dress, making the silk dance around her legs like emerald flames.

The city lights blurred through her tears as she lifted the champagne for one last sip.

The bubbles felt like tiny stars on her tongue.

"That's a very expensive way to get attention, princess."

The deep voice cut through her thoughts like a blade, rich and dangerous.

Heat crept up her spine despite the cold.

Something about that voice made her skin tingle in a way she hadn't felt in years.

She didn't turn around. "You're a long way from the security office."

"Step back from the ledge."

His voice was closer now, careful but commanding.

The kind of voice that expected to be obeyed.

"The marble's slick. One wrong move-"

"That's the point."

A bitter laugh escaped her throat as she raised her glass in mock toast.

The crystal caught the city lights, fracturing them into rainbow patterns.

"Daddy's always trying to control everything. Even how I die."

She let the glass fall, watching it disappear into the darkness.

The tiny glint of crystal vanished like a falling star.

The wind gusted sharply.

Her heel slipped on the wet marble.

Suddenly she was tilting forward, the city lights rushing up to meet her.

Her heart stopped, then raced-

Strong arms locked around her waist like steel bands, yanking her backward.

The scent of leather and masculine cologne flooded her senses.

They hit the rooftop hard, her rescuer twisting to take the impact.

They rolled away from the edge, his body caging hers protectively as loose gravel rained down around them.

The solid warmth of him chased away the October chill.

Lightning flashed, illuminating the darkest eyes she'd ever seen.

They belonged to a face that was all hard angles and shadows.

Handsome in a dangerous way that made her breath catch.

Power and grace contained in an expertly tailored suit.

A thin scar traced his jaw.

This close, she could feel his heart hammering against her chest.

His scent enveloped her-expensive cologne mixed with leather and something uniquely male that made her head spin.

Her body reacted traitorously, warming despite the cold rain.

"Let me go," she whispered, but her fingers had somehow wound into his suit jacket.

The fine wool was soft under her trembling hands.

"Not happening."

His grip tightened as another gust of wind roared past.

Each point of contact between them sent sparks through her rain-chilled skin.

"I don't let go of things that matter."

"You don't know me." She tried to ignore how perfectly she fit against him.

"Aria Thorne. Twenty-five. Yale graduate. Runs the family foundation."

His intense gaze never left hers, dark and burning.

She could drown in those eyes.

"And currently trying to make a permanent exit from a temporary problem."

"You did your homework."

She tried to inject venom into her voice, but it came out breathless instead.

His body was solid muscle against hers, radiating heat through her rain-chilled silk.

Every breath pressed them closer together.

"Damien Kane. And doing my homework keeps people alive."

He started to shift his weight but froze when another piece of the ledge crumbled away behind them.

"That's my job."

Thunder rolled overhead as he carefully helped her to her feet, keeping one arm firmly around her waist.

His touch was professional but somehow intimate, making her pulse race.

The world tilted suddenly.

Whether from the near-death experience or something else, Aria felt her limbs growing heavy.

Black spots danced at the edges of her vision.

The city lights began to blur and swim.

This wasn't right-she'd only had one glass...

Her legs buckled.

Damien caught her instantly, lifting her as if she weighed nothing.

Through increasingly blurry vision, she studied his face.

Those dark eyes seemed to see right through her carefully constructed walls, past every mask she'd ever worn.

"I've got you," he murmured, and for the first time in years, someone did.

The words felt like a promise.

Her head fell against his chest, where she could hear the steady beat of his heart.

So different from her own, which was starting to race uncomfortably fast.

Each breath became more difficult than the last.

Her throat felt tight, her limbs like lead.

Fear crept in, different from the peaceful acceptance she'd felt on the ledge.

"Something's wrong," she managed to whisper.

His arms tightened protectively.

He was already moving toward the roof access door, his long strides eating up the distance.

Each step was careful but urgent.

Rain pelted them, but he shielded her with his body.

"Stay with me, princess."

The command in his voice had been replaced by something that sounded almost like fear.

Sharp pain shot through her arm, spreading like fire through her veins.

Through the haze, she heard him barking orders into his comm unit, felt the vibration of his voice in his chest.

"Security breach on the roof! Get medical up here now. And lock down the gala-no one leaves!"

The last thing she felt was his fingers pressed against her neck, checking her pulse.

Even as consciousness faded, she noticed how gentle those dangerous hands could be.

How safe she felt in the arms of a stranger.

Then even his strong arms couldn't hold her anymore.

***

Fragments of sensation returned slowly.

Harsh hospital lights.

The beep of monitors.

And that deep voice, sharp with barely controlled rage.

"Test everything. The glass, the champagne, every bottle at that gala."

A pause.

"And get me the security footage. I want to know everyone who had access to her tonight."

"Mr. Kane." A new voice, grave.

"The toxicology results... this wasn't just tonight. The levels in her blood suggest someone's been poisoning her for months."

A rough hand caught hers, calloused fingers wrapping around her delicate wrist.

Even barely conscious, she felt the tension radiating from him.

His thumb traced her pulse point, as if reassuring himself it was still beating.

"I've got you, princess," Damien whispered, his voice a dangerous promise.

"And whoever did this... they'll wish they'd never touched you."

***

In a sleek penthouse across town, a figure watched the emergency response through floor-to-ceiling windows.

Such a shame about the interrupted gala.

But then, everything had been going wrong lately, hadn't it?

All those careful plans, dissolved like poison in a champagne glass.

The figure lifted their own glass in a mock toast, the crystal catching the city lights just as Aria's had moments before.

Aria may have survived tonight, but that was almost more interesting.

After all, a quick death would have been too easy.

And there was so much more fun to be had.