The Price of His Contract

ys were a speci

, a board member, had manufactured an "urgent project" for Eleanor. It w

astian Vanderbilt, from his throne behind the mahogany do

hine. Three hours of sleep a night. A diet of black coffee and pro

was a cavern of darkness, punctuated by

al word of the re

pied: Amber Vanderbilt, and the entire b

ze she had handed Eleanor the master key. Embedded deep within those complex financ

g Amber's trap, but quietly routing the evidence of Anthony Ster

r and pressed a hand to her sternum, where her heart beat slow and steady. So that's

owhere left to go. The first cramp hit her like a blade-a fist twisting deep in her stomach. Cold sweat bea

d water.

he world tilted. Black spots danced i

battle. She made it through the door before her strength gave out completely. She sl

er throat. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth. She wou

e cold concrete floor. The sound of Amber and her friends laughing on the other side of t

ng to fray at the edges when

ort she sent was missing a key financial model attachment. He had been ab

e fou

mal. Her face was ashen, her forehead

ing creature who had signed his NDA. This raw, uncontained vuln

s a shard of ice in the quiet room

. She tried to uncurl, to stand, but th

t were broken. He hated mess. He hated weaknes

ally upright. Her skin was shockingly cold. Her wrist, del

act, a full-body tremor that

ainst the inside of her wrist, find

an necessary. Then he let go. S

angry. He dialed from memory. "Carlisle, get to

thout waiting

wn, slid one arm under her knees and th

n, his chest unyielding. She could smell the cold cleanness of him-snow

left. Her head dropped to his chest. His heartbeat was a

s, his thumb caught on the raised line of an old scar beneath her collarbone. His jaw tightened. N

e she hadn't known existed and deposited h

for a moment, a da

said, his voice flat and cold

closed the door, plunging