Chapter 3

I looked down at the large hand still clenched around the hem of my coat.

"I'm not for sale, Mr. Moretti."

My voice remained calm and cold. I did not step back or show the slightest trace of fear.

Rex rose to his full height, towering over me like a wall built from shadow and muscle. His dark, heated gaze searched my face for any sign of weakness.

The black corruption that had tormented him for ten years was gone. Only the tension in his sharply cut jaw revealed how closely he was watching me.

"Then tell me what you want," he said, his deep voice vibrating through his chest. "You're the only person who has ever stopped this pain. That makes you extremely valuable. Name your terms."

Before I could answer, my phone buzzed repeatedly inside my coat pocket.

A stream of furious, panicked messages from Julian filled the screen.

Julian: Evelyn! What did you do to my name? The bank just froze my primary fund account!

Julian: Investors are pulling out of their contracts! Answer your phone. Now!

I read the messages and let out a quiet, humorless laugh.

"My estranged husband still thinks he can give me orders," I said, lifting my eyes to Rex. "He stole fifteen years of my life. Now he can find out how little he is without my luck protecting him."

Rex glanced at the illuminated screen. Cold contempt sharpened his expression.

Behind him, his chief aide stepped forward with a black tablet in his hands.

"Mr. Moretti," the aide reported quietly, "this is Evelyn Sterling. The messages are from Julian Vance, founder of Vance Capital."

Rex's mouth curved into a dangerous smile.

He offered me no empty sympathy. Instead, he stepped closer, near enough for his authority to make the air between us feel colder.

"Vance Capital?" he repeated, looking at his aide.

"Buy every Vance Capital debt you can reach before midnight. Freeze its new credit lines, but call in nothing until Evelyn decides."

The aide gave a single nod and immediately began issuing instructions through the tablet.

Rex turned back to me. Possessive intent burned in his dark eyes, but I held his gaze without yielding.

"Your estranged husband is an obstacle," he said, his voice rough and dangerous. "From this moment on, you're under my protection, Evelyn. I won't allow anyone to interfere with the one person who can keep me alive."

He opened the Maybach's rear door and waited beside it, his posture cold and immovable.

"Get in," he said. "We need to discuss your terms."

I looked from the waiting car to the man who had placed my husband’s company within my reach as casually as another person might order dinner.

Fifteen minutes ago, Julian had told me I was nothing without his name.

Now one of the most feared men in the city was waiting for me to set my own price.

I stepped into the car.