From Ashes, A New Empire

up with

e high-thread-count cotton, smooth against my

ical fog clouding my thoughts. I k

I saw

e king-sized bed, sitting up, loo

ams, of the crushing heat, slammed into m

p. My heart hammer

ight. The nigh

ong?" Chloe asked

d hard. The sight of her made my skin crawl. She was

from me," I

e. A real cho

haking so badly I could barely unlock it. I found Ryan'

it

voice was smo

own voice a harsh r

se. "Alex? Wha

words like poison in my mouth. "St. Reg

it for a rep

The drug was still in my system, making the room tilt

uite, leaving the door

h the grand windows. I felt a wave of nausea. The drug was pe

cab, my wor

downtown.

lage. I saw a discreet, unmarked black door. A faint sound of jaz

rf

ace was dark, filled with rich leather and t

erate. I needed someone who lo

en I s

a razor-sharp power suit, her hair pulled back in a severe, elegant style. A glass o

t to her table,

y hands flat on

me," I

sharp and intelligent. N

or the night." I fumbled for my walle

cker of amusement in her eyes. H

mall, knowing smile

aid, her voice low and steady.

ok a slow sip, and held my ga

me exactly what kind