behind her. The sound was
her with the loose gait of a man who had been drin
g it against her lips. "Drink. Consider it an apolog
ss, soaking the black fabric, staining it the color of o
kward. Her knees hit the edge of a low table covered in velvet. She
ones. The kind of shoes that came with a price tag and no dignity. "And give
lement. She thought of Elena's ventilator. She thought of Julian's red pen crossing out her na
side her. Or maybe
Her voice cut through the music, sh
eyond your own greed." She looked directly at Gregg. "You want a show? Go to the Met. Buy a ticket. Sit in the dark like a civilized human being and watch somethin
d the sound system. Alyssa's breathi
nt purple. He r
alling. She thought of failing. She thou
rner. The one with the predator's eye
d her eye
s the carpet and dropped to her knees at his feet, her fingers clutching t
eas
It taste
't change. But something flickered in those dar
e room. "Get up. He's n
hle
syllable. Gregg
arble. He reached out with one hand and cupped Alyssa's chin, turning her face to examin
voice was quiet, conversational. "I was lo
He didn't raise his voice. He didn't have to. The sheer, freezing weigh
held it
t-cashmere, charcoal gray-and draped it over Alyssa's shoulders. The f
he quiet, lethal authority of a man who could dismantle Gregg
feet with effortless strength and guided her toward the door. No one stopped
ed skin. Alyssa tried to shrug off the jac
ep
nst the small of her back and pushed her inside. She scrambled across the leather seat, reac
en front and back s
. Just let me out. I'll walk. I'll take
y were alone. Cornell opened a compartment built int
n ar
aid
arms caging her against the door, his face inches from hers. His eyes were
repeated, "or I'
felt the cold swipe of antiseptic, the gentle pressure of a cotton p
wasn't a question. "In the corr
no ch
chose to come to me." His hand settled on her shoulder, heavy and possessive. "That was intelligent. That was s
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