Dane opened his fingers. He did not hesitate, nor did he attempt to negotiate. He simply let go of his cell phone, allowing the expensive device to drop to the carpeted floor with a dull, quiet thud.Slowly, deliberately, Dane raised both of his hands into the air, keeping his palms open and visible. He did exactly as the thug commanded, feigning total submission. He swallowed the volcanic, homicidal rage burning in his chest, forcing his muscles to relax. He could not afford a single mistake. His pride meant absolutely nothing compared to Mara’s safety, and the sharp steel blade was resting dangerously close to her pulse.Seeing the terrifying man in the doorway finally back down and raise his hands, Bruno let out a harsh, arrogant bark of laughter."That is what I thought," Bruno sneered. He shifted his weight, pulling Mara a fraction of an inch closer against his chest to ensure she could not squirm away. "You know when you are beaten. You are just a smart guy who knows exactly whe

"Are you completely out of your mind?!" Lana shrieked, scrambling frantically backward across the hotel carpet. She held a shaking hand to her rapidly swelling cheek, her eyes wide with a mixture of absolute terror and indignant, spoiled fury. "I am Lana Prescott! I am the primary heir of the Prescott family! My father will have you killed for touching me! Do you know how much money we have?!"Victor did not flinch. He looked down at the ruined heiress with a gaze so full of raw, unfiltered contempt that it made Cade physically shrink back into his leather chair."You think the Prescott name means anything in my world?" Victor sneered, his deep voice vibrating with lethal mockery. "You are just a little girl playing dress-up in expensive clothes. Your father, the great Patriarch you hide behind, calls my private phone twice a year to beg for favorable shipping routes. If I told him I slapped his arrogant daughter today, he would personally send me a gift basket to apologize for your e

Dane stopped in front of the massive wrought iron gates of The Pinnacle. He carried a single dark duffel bag over his right shoulder. His objective for the morning was entirely straightforward. Patriarch Sterling had hired him for a very specific job. Dane was to move into Berry’s private apartment today and serve as her live-in bodyguard. The old man wanted his granddaughter protected around the clock, and Dane always honored his contracts.He walked up to the visitor checkpoint. The security booth was made of tinted glass and polished steel. A security guard wearing a crisp, tailored uniform stepped out to block the path.The guard crossed his arms and looked Dane up and down. His eyes scanned Dane’s faded grey tracksuit, his scuffed boots, and the plain canvas bag. A look of profound, undisguised disgust settled on the guard's face. The Pinnacle was the most exclusive luxury residential complex in the entire city. Only billionaires, celebrities, and top corporate executives lived be

Dane stopped in front of the massive wrought iron gates of The Pinnacle. He carried a single dark duffel bag over his right shoulder. His objective for the morning was entirely straightforward. Patriarch Sterling had hired him for a very specific job. Dane was to move into Berry’s private apartment today and serve as her live-in bodyguard. The old man wanted his granddaughter protected around the clock, and Dane always honored his contracts.He walked up to the visitor checkpoint. The security booth was made of tinted glass and polished steel. A security guard wearing a crisp, tailored uniform stepped out to block the path.The guard crossed his arms and looked Dane up and down. His eyes scanned Dane’s faded grey tracksuit, his scuffed boots, and the plain canvas bag. A look of profound, undisguised disgust settled on the guard's face. The Pinnacle was the most exclusive luxury residential complex in the entire city. Only billionaires, celebrities, and top corporate executives lived b

"I asked you a direct question," Berry snapped. Her voice was not loud, but it carried a lethal, undeniable authority that instantly paralyzed the man in the uniform. "Who gave you the absolute right to tell my personal guest that he cannot walk through these gates?"The security guard’s face completely drained of color. He looked frantically from the roaring red sports car, to Dane standing calmly on the sidewalk, and then back to Berry. He knew exactly who Berry Sterling was. Everyone who worked at The Pinnacle knew. She was not just incredibly wealthy; her family had a reputation built on dark, terrifying rumors. Just last month, a resident had refused to apologize when their off-leash dog snapped at Berry’s heels during a morning walk. The very next day, that resident’s luxury condo was entirely empty, their names were wiped from the registry, and the family was allegedly forced out of the city completely. You simply did not cross the Sterling heiress.The guard began to visibly t