Hostile Heart, Soft Kisses

pened a

ll dig

t me

hand was

photo still glo

the penthouse. Coffee

ot on h

rom the windo

re she lunged, slamming into him and dragging

e floor-to-ceiling

A sharp, silenced sho

t the

voice shaking. "Someone

le in the glass. The re

sure that

me, Leo. With your

locke

all tens

urviva

muttered, pulling her into a crouch. "W

aiting for bac

what's y

ing to th

tes later pale, shaky, and

n't know anyone

gun on Leo," Amelia sn

t was never me I was being used.

d 'him.' W

d his face. Everything came through a courie

ame?" Leo

Tho

ia f

't come from t

om her mot

mother used in her legal

stif

erson who buried your mothe

ying to finish w

ouse within the hour. Chloe s

e outside the city. No press. No surveil

f the bed, elbows on

f I'm a target,"

elia said. "Not if y

e said. "But I need t

at wh

"U

lked t

to her

s hands

kissed his knuckles, slow and aching " might be t

ed her

s wasn't

as f

went through her

folders. L

ut: "TRIAL_

clic

mes populate

was marked w

e – Primary Wit

d over he

to testify again

was shaking. "My fat

h

flashed in

: UN

he's not the only

hment

open

omach

nger brot

s with Sebas

eathed. "That'

it

e this

s usual confident register. No

t r

ing. Shaking hands with a man Leo had onl

tian

said slowly, "that Ethan di

stupid. Naive? Ma

t know the

he woman your father buried. And now he's smil

find out

ruth is that my fami

. Then,

cide what to

om, tension bleeding off him like heat. His

've seen th

could

been different for months. Avoiding me. M

and throug

y or legacy. You can't have both

ne made him think

rned t

do you

o wh

eople after everythin

dn't a

rd him, slow, me

once believed in me

hen she pressed he

when her lips

nds slid lower,

here now..."

lready gon

e people who had n

t rough

tegic. Every kiss a reassuran

over, they l

a scar acros

d you g

able trying to impress a

ow o

ourt

e lik

iked my

ghed,

y of my

t any

er head on h

u hav

eceived a notification

zed acces

ced to: Vance Enter

the file r

han had tri

ion Clause // Private Only //

kill switch," Leo muttere

ared at t

just aligned

trying t