Placing my flute of champagne down, I spin on my heels and head down a hallway. I have to find another place to hide, plan, and escape unnoticed. The music of the party and the laughter of the guests seem to raise my panic to epic levels. I need to think. Maxim can’t find me. Especially not here. I can’t have this all go down on Morelli soil. I refuse to let my blood be shed here. Not here. I don’t want Bryant and his children to know how much my family’s in debt and that I fucked up by getting us in even more debt but with ruthless killers as our debtors. Lucian has the power to save me. So does Leo. Actually… so do so many in that family. But I don’t want them to know what I did. I’d rather die than them know that I can’t protect myself without falling on my ass.

Feeling as if he’s on my scent, I quickly turn into a room and close the door behind me. I know I’m trapping myself in, but maybe I can climb out a window. Or maybe I can wait the party out and sneak out after all the guests have left. Maybe Maxim will believe I was never here. He didn’t see me, so maybe if I just hide, I’ll be safe.

“You felt the need to leave the party too, I see.” I hear a voice from a large high-back chair sitting by a roaring fire. A voice so thick, gravelly, and foreign that shivers run down my spine. “Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy a good party. I just prefer them to be on my own turf.”

My eyes adjust to the dimness of the room, and I see Nick Hudson sitting in the leather chair sipping amber liquid from a crystal cut glass. A large mantel with an intricate wreath and garland masters the room, and yet this man is not dwarfed by the massive size of his surroundings. I can see now that I’m in a study that is empty except for him. He’s here.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I say, as my heart skips. “I didn’t realize anyone was in here.” I consider leaving, but Maxim could be on the other side.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he says, still watching the fire, his ankle crossed over his knee. He seems so at home in the Morellis’ study. “Your life’s at risk as long as you stay.”

“Excuse me?” I ask, confused that he seems to know me.

“You can run from them, but can’t stay hidden long,” he says as he raises his glass to his lips and drinks.

Chapter Two

Nick

Fucking beautiful.