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Prologue

Kia Rutherford-Stanton opened the door to her penthouse suite and stared at the ray dress shirt, he appeared farand the handsoest

Thick black hair was pulled back fro features of his face and secured at his nape He looked wicked, forbidden, and dangerous And, unfortunately, he was the veryat her door despite the fantasies she'd often had of him in the past

She knew him Everyone kneho Chase Falladay was, and those who didn't soon learned According to her bastard husband, he was also the oneon her doorstep

As though she should be frightened of him Perhaps that was her mistake It was never fear that filled her whenever she was around Chase Wariness at tie, an awareness that she shouldn't be anywhere near him

But fear had never been one of those emotions

"What do you want?" She wondered if the bruises on her face were still apparent She didn't think so She'd spent forever on her

It seemed her husband, Carl "Drew" Stanton, hadn't been pleased when he found out that his wife had no intentions of taking hih their social set that he had not only atte with another man, but that he and that man were part of a club created for just such morally questionable acts

As though she wanted that to get out As though it didn't humiliate her asto help hiiven her in response had strengthened her resolve that she didn't care if he fried in society She could weather any gossip because, frankly, she didn't give a damn

But, as her husband had warned her, Chase Falladay had a reason to care, and here he was Her husband had also warned her that if Chase did show up, then they all needed to be very frightened

"I'd just like to talk to you a moment, Kia " His voice was like smooth, rich brandy It curled over the senses and reminded her, no matter how much she wished otherwise, that she was still a woet a response

"As if I'm not perfectly aware of what you want to talk about " She stepped aside as he moved into the apartment, his tall, hard body somehow at odds with the stark atmosphere that surrounded him now

She turned and led the way frolare over her shoulder Drew, her soon-to-be ex-husband, had called her the day before, warning her to expect a visit frooon squad

The son of a bitch Fury rose inside her like a vicious flood; it filled her with betrayal and anger, it sta sneer on her face as Chase Falladay stepped into the room

"Kia, I don't want to battle with you " He turned to her, staring back at her, as though he understood, as though he were coh "