TheBillionaire’sStep

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TableofContent

PartOne

PartTwo

PartThree

MoreStories!

TheBillionaire’sStep

PartOne

One

Hecouldseethetiny

quiversripplingdownher

back.Herbreathingwas

shallowbutnotrapid,which

meantshewasteetering

betweenfearandarousal.

Thesweetspot.

Withoneword,one

gesture,hecouldflingher

intoheartpoundingfearor

mindnumbingarousal.That

wasthepowerheheld.And

hershudderingbodyand

shallowpantsconfirmedthat

sheknewthisaswell.

JulianBenedict,CEO

andfounderofthe

internationalconglomerateJB

Enterprises,stretchedouthis

longlegs,gentlyyankingthe

delicatechainheheldinhis

hands.Theotherendofthe

longchainsplitintotwo

spikednippleclamps,each

connectedpainfullyto

Yvette’sveryswollen

nipples.Thegentleyank

elicitedasharpgaspfrom

her,makingherlargebreasts

swayheavily.Butshekept

hereyesobedientlyclosed.

Goodgirl.

True,hecould’veput

ablindfoldonhertoensure

herblindness.Butthenthat

wouldn’tbeanyfun.Often,

helikedtotestasubmissive’s

truenaturebyseeingwhose

willtheywouldobey—hisor

theirown.Andanelementof

fearwasthebesttest.No

matterhownerve-wracking

orhowsuspensefulthescene

mightfeel,shemustgiveup

herfearandherwilltohim

andkeephereyesclosed.His

wordmustweighmorethan

theirownfears.Drivinghome

thislessonwasasimportant

toYvetteasitwas

pleasurabletohim.

Yvettestoodstraight

beforehim.Shehadno

choicereally.Herarmswere

boundtightlybehindher,

forearmoverforearm.Games

ofwillaside,Julianstill

enjoyedthesightofa

beautifullyboundwoman.

Herlargebreastswere

pleasinglyswollenandred

fromhisearlierabuse.Much

couldbedonewithariding

crop.Heknewifhewereto

turnheraround,herpert

bottomwouldbeanice

glowingcrimson,matching

herfullbreasts.Yvettehada

throatylustfulcrywhenhe

spankedher,whichnormally

wouldbeenoughtoarouse

himintoaragingfrenzy.He

wouldthenroughlybendher

over,squeezingherhips,as

heplungedhisthickcockinto

herbeggingpussy.Hewould

brutallythrustintoherhard

anddeep,overandoveragain

tillshecamescreaming.He

wouldmakesurethatforthe

nextfewdays,whenever

Yvettewalked,shewould

rememberwhoownedher

pussy.

Buttonightwas

different.

Tonight,hedidn’tfeel

thatsamepulsinglust.No

matterhowmanytimeshe

pinchedYvette’sdelicious

nipplesortookher

gorgeouslywidemouth,

Juliancouldn’tpushawaythe

familiarcreepingcoldness

thatseemedtofillhisbones

fromthemarrowwithin.No

matterhowhetriedtoignore

it,thedarkicinessonly

seemedtobloomandgrow

withinhim.

Knowinghereyes

werecompletelyclosed,

Julianlethimselfclosehis

owneyes,squeezingthe

bridgeofhisnose.Perhaps

callingYvetteovertonight

hadn’tbeensuchagoodidea.

Oratleast,heshouldn’thave

calledherovertohisoffice.It

waswellpastmidnightand

Julianknewnobodywasin

thebuilding,letalonethe

executivesuitewhichwasthe

entire60thfloor.

Juliannevertooka

womanhome.He’deither

callthemtohisofficeonlate

nightsortakethemtoahotel.

Whichiswhatheshould’ve

donewithYvette.He

could’vetakenhertohis

usualsuiteattheFour

Seasons.Butinsteadhehad

calledherhere.Andtonight,

beingsurroundedbyhis

luxuriouslyfurnishedoffice,

Julianfeltdrained.

BehindYvette,he

couldseehisgleaming

Brazilianwooddesk.

Althoughitwasmeticulously

cleanatthemoment,Julian

knewthechaositheld.

Thesearchwasnot

goingwell.

Evenafterfouryears.

Notrace,noclues.Nothing.

EverytimeJulian

thoughtabouthowabysmally

yearsoftrackinghadbeen

going,hisheartclenchedat

thepossiblemeaningsofsuch

anabsoluteandcomplete

disappearance.

Heshookhishead

abruptly.Openinghiseyes,

JulianfocusedonYvette.No,

hewouldnotlethimself

entertainsuchthoughts.Not

rightnow.Heyankedhardon

thechain.Yvettecriedoutas

shewasjerkedforward.

Tryingnottoloseherbalance

withherboundarms,she

quicklystumbledforward,

hereyesstillobediently

closed.

Julianraisedhisfoot

againstherknee,stoppingher

fromrunningrightintohim.

“Onyourknees,”hesaid,his

deepvoicerougherfromhis

stubbornnessintryingtowill

awaythedarkness.

Yvette’sthroat

musclesclenchedasshe

gulpedathiscommand.As

sheloweredherself,Julian

couldsmellherheady

anticipation.Heopenedhis

pants,freeinghissizeable

cock.Julianwould’vesnorted

ifheweren’tsodistracted.It

neverceasedtoamazehim

howthebodyandmindcould

wanttwocompletelydifferent

thingsatthesametime.But

hewasneveronetoargue

withhumanbiology,

especiallysincehisbiology

wasservinghimquite

convenientlyatthemoment.

“Openyoureyes,”he

saidquietly.Yvettefluttered

herlonglashesassheopened

herlargehazeleyes.Shewas

quiteabeauty.AformerMiss

NewYork,shewasnow

currentlyamodel.Shewasan

unusualmodelthough.Her

bodywaslusciousandfull,

unliketheusualsticks

walkingdowntherunways

everyspring.Butevenwith

herlargermeasurements,the

gorgeousamazonhadbeen

embracedbythemodeling

industry.Withinherfirstyear

ofmodeling,shehadlanded

thecoversofseveralhuge

magazines,launchingherinto

celebritydom.Gossipwriters

wereconstantlypairingher

withanynumberofathletes

andcelebrities.Andperhaps,

shediddatethosepeople

occasionally.Juliandidn’t

care.Heonlyknewthatevery

timehecalled,Yvettewould

comeflyingovertohisoffice

orhotelsuiteandwillingly

getonherkneesforhim.And

that’sallheneededor

wanted.

Withalovingly

desperatehungerinhereyes,

Yvettelookedupathim.But

hergazewassoonpulled

towardshisimpressive

erection.Sheslowlylicked

herlipsassheeyedhiscock.

Slowlypullingthechain

closer,JulianforcedYvetteto

crawlcloseronherknees.He

couldseethepainofher

nipplesturningintoraw

pleasureasshetriedtoclench

herthighswhilecrawling.

Julian’slipstwitchedin

amusement.Nouse.He

didn’tneedtoseeittoknow

howwetshewas.

Withhernowonlya

breathawayfromhiscock,

Julianliftedherchin.Giving

herthefullforceofhis

hardenedgaze,hesaid,

“Showmehowmuchyou

appreciateyourpunishment.”

Hehardlyhadtosaymore.

Givennowtheexpress

permission,Yvetteeagerly

bentherheadtomouthas

muchofJulian’scockas

possible.

Hermouthwarmand

inviting,hertongueskilled

andeager,Juliancouldn’t

helpbutgroanatthepleasure.

Encouraged,Yvette

continued,bobbingherhead

deeperanddeeperontohis

cock,lettingitbrushagainst

thebackofherthroat.Julian

placedafirmhandoverher

head,keepinghiscockdeep

inherthroat.Withhisother

hand,heswiftlyyankedthe

chain,roughlypullingoffher

nippleclamps.

Yvette’sthroaty

screamsweremuffledagainst

hiscockastherushofblood

floodedherabusedtissues.

Julianclosedhiseyesashe

enjoyedthevibrationsofher

criesagainsthiscock.He

couldfeelhersquirming

underhishand.Heknewshe

desperatelywantedtorubher

breaststoeasethepain.But

herboundhandswereuseless

andallshecoulddowaslet

thepainwashoverherasit

slowlytransmutedintopussy

soppingpleasure.He

controlledherbreathing,her

pleasure,herpain.

Julianfinallyremoved

hishand,lettingYvettecome

upforgaspingbreaths.Tears

wettedherlashes,makingher

eyesseemevenlargerand

moredoe-like.Butbehindthe

tearsandthegasps,hecould

seethefiresofpassioninher

eyes.Heknewshewaseven

morearousedthanbefore.

Andbeyondthepurelust,he

couldseetheeagerlookof

more.

Yvettewasnota

womanusedtobeingdenied.

Althoughshecravedthe

disciplineanddominance

Julianprovided,heknewshe

waswaitingformore.

Shewantedhisheart.

Butthatwas

somethingJulianwouldn’t

give.Couldn’tgive.Forany

ofthenumberoffaceless

womenhecalledtohisoffice

orhotelsuite,allhehadto

offerwasafirmhandanda

strongcommand.Buthis

heartwasneveranoption.He

couldn’tgivesomethinghe

didn’thaveanyway.

Feelingthecreeping

fingersofthatlingering

coldness,Julianabruptly

stoodup.Jerkinghischin

towardstheexpensiveleather

sofathattookupnearlyone

wholesideofhisoffice,he

saidinavoiceofrawcut

steel,“Bendoverandshow

methatpussy.”

Yvettenearlygrinned

inhereagernessand

scrambledtodohisbidding.

Withherround,pertassin

theair,Juliansqueezedher

hipsandthrusthishardcock

homeintoherachingpussy.

Yvettemoanedloudlyinto

theseatcushions.Thiswould

havetobethelasttimehe

calledher.Hecouldn’tkeep

lettinghercarrysucha

hopelessflameforhim.

Thisisallhewould

give

Andthisisallhe

wouldtake.

Two

“Yourcoffee,sir.”

Trisha’ssoftvoice

cutthroughhishazecausing

Julian’sheadtosnapup.He

hadn’theardherenterhis

office.Shewasclearinga

spaceonhisdesksoshe

couldsetdownthesterling

silvercoffeetray.Hewatched

asshequicklysetoutcupand

sauceranddeftlypouredthe

hotcoffee.Pushingthecup

forward,sheaddedquietly,

“It’squitestrongtoday.”

Julianwasnotone

forchattinessandTrisha

understoodthis.Aquiet

personherself,shehadmade

theperfectpersonalassistant

forthelastsevenyears.Inher

latefifties,softlyrounded,

andquietlyefficient,Trisha

hadquicklybecomean

indispensiblecomponentof

JBEnterprises.

Healsoappreciated

herdiscreetness.Heknew

thatshewasawareofhis

midnightdalliancesinhis

office.Heknewshetookcare

ofhismanypersonalexpense

reports,includingregular

hotelbills,withoutcomment.

Andherquietcommentabout

strongcoffeewasasdirectas

shewouldgetabouthowtired

hemustlook.

“Isitthatobvious?”

Julianasked,hislipsquirked

ashetookasipofthehot,

darkbrew.Itwasindeed

quitestrong.

“Justwantedto

fortifyyouforthedayahead,

sir,”Trisharepliedsoftly,her

expressionneutralyet

pleasant.

Julianfrowned,his

browcreasing,ashetriedto

rememberwhathehadonthe

agendatoday.“Havethe

SouthAmericannumbers

comein?Makesurethat

Davidsonhasfirstdibson—”

Trishashookher

head,asmileplayingather

lips.“No,thenumbers

haven’tcomeinyet.”She

pulledoutasmallstackof

manilafoldersfrom

underneaththecoffeetray.

“Today’sthedayforfinal

interviews.”

Julian’shandpaused

midair,thecupofcoffee

steamingunderhisnose.

“Ah,”hesaidquietly.“Yes.”

Trisha’sdaughter

wassixmonthspregnantand

hadahusbandanticipatinga

promisingjobtransferto

Utah.Havingworkedasa

singleparentformostofher

career,Trishawas

particularlyclosetoher

daughterandvaluedhertime

withher.Knowingheronly

childandherfirstgrandchild

wereabouttomovetothe

othersideofthecountry,

Trishahadquicklyand

quietlyputinherresignation

letter.

Julianhadseenhow

difficultithadbeenforTrisha

toturninherletter.Julian

wasamanoffewwordswho

wasn’tknowntobe

incrediblydemonstrative

emotionally.Butheknew

Trishaknewhowmuchhe

valuedandappreciatedher.

Andhealsoknewhow

importantherchildand

familywastoher.Hewould

havenochanceinconvincing

hertostayandnordidhe

wantto.Notifitmeant

separatingherfromherchild.

Andgrandchild.

Julianflickedhis

eyesoverthestackoffolders.

Insidewouldbeneatlytyped

resumeswithTrisha’swritten

notes.Forthelasttwoweeks,

Trishahadbeenholding

interviewswithdozensof

potentialcandidates.A

positionundertheCEOof

oneoftheworld’smost

successfulandwell-

connectedcompanieswas

explosivenewsforthe

corporatejobmarket.People

floodedinwithpolished

resumesandperfectedcover

letters.

Trishahaddonethe

hardworkofweedingoutthe

leastacceptablecandidates

theninterviewingthepossible

ones.Nowacoupleweeks

later,shehadnarrowedthe

listofseveraldozendownto

six.Threethisafternoon,

threetomorrowafternoon.

Theideaoflosing

TrishamadeJulian’sthroat

tightenbuthewasno

competitionagainstmaternal

love.Soallhecoulddowas

acceptwhatwasthe

inevitableandinterviewthe

replacement.

“Anyone

promising?”heasked,taking

anothersip.

Trish,takingoneof

theleatherseatsacrosshis

desk,nodded

noncommittally.“Iwouldn’t

berecommendingany

candidatesthatdidn’tlook

promising,”shesaid,a

playfulsmileatherlips.That

wasasclosetooutright

teasingTrishagot.

Juliansmiled.“Then

Idon’tneedanyfortification.

Itrustyourjudgment,”he

saidwithquietgravity.A

faintblushstainedTrisha’s

cheeksasshestoodtoleave.

ButbeforeTrisha

couldturntowardsthedoor,

Juliancalledoutinwhathe

hopedsoundedlikeacasual

voice,“Anywordfrom

Montgomery?”

Whetherhehad

actuallysoundedcasualor

not,themeaningbehindthe

questionwasn’tlostonhis

perceptiveassistant.“He

calledafewminutesago.”

Juliansatupinhis

seat,carefullyloweringhis

cup.“And?”heasked,his

heartthudding.

Trishalooked

miserableasshesaid,“He

saysweshouldtakeabreak

forafewweeks.The

search…well,thetrailhas

gonecold,hesays.Andhe

thinksafewweekstostep

backfromthegathered

materialmighthelpus

regroupforournextstep.”

FromTrisha’s

worriedexpression,Julian

couldtellhehadnotdonea

goodenoughjobinhidinghis

harshdisappointment.

“ShouldIgethimonthe

phone?”sheasked.

Julianpauseda

momentbeforeshakinghis

head.“No,”hesaidslowly.

Afteranotherpause,hesaid

moredefinitively,“No.

Montgomery’sright.Thetrail

hasgonecoldandasmall

breakmighthelpusseesome

kindofmissingpiecewe’ve

overlooked.”

Fuckthecoldtrail.

Hecouldfeelhisgrip

tighteningaroundhiscup.

Julianconsciouslyrelaxedhis

handstheporcelainwouldn’t

shatterinhisfist.Whatwas

thepointofhavinganet

worthexceedingbillions

whenhecouldn’tevenfind

onemissingperson?Whatthe

hellwashepaying

Montgomerytodoanyway?

Maybethetrailis

coldbecausethebody’snot

missing….Julianfelthisheart

hammeragainsthisribs.Stop,

hetoldhisbrain.Hedidn’t

wanthisthoughtstofollow

thenextlogicalconclusion.

Buthecouldfeelhisinner

devilalreadyrushingtothe

surfaceofhismind.

Maybethetrailiscold

becausethebodyisjustas

cold.Adeadbodyleavesless

ofatrailthanaliveone.

Aflashofhoney

blondehairandgolden-green

eyesflashedacrosshismind.

Julianabruptly

reachedfortheinterview

folders,startlingTrisha.No,

hewouldnotdwellonsuch

thoughts.Hehadbeen

contemplatingtheideaof

hiringmoredetectivesbut

hadheldoff,thinkingtoo

manychefsinthekitchen

wouldbotchtherecipeof

evidenceorclues.Butnow,

hecouldseehehadno

choice.He’dstartmaking

inquiriestonightforthebest

detectivesmoneycouldhire.

No,hecouldn’tlet

thememoriescometohim

yet.Itwastooearlyinthe

day.Therewasworktobe

done.

“Thankyou,Trisha,”

hesaid,hiscoolvoicesudden

andabrupt.“Pleasenotifyme

whenthefirstcandidate

arrives.”

ButTrishadidn’t

seemfazedbyhismood

change.Shenoddedand

gatheredsomeofthefinished

documentsJulianhadlaidout

forherontheedgeofhis

desk.Knowingthiswasnota

timetopresshiminanyway,

shequietlylefttheoffice

withoutanotherword.

Juliansighedashis

officedoorsclosedbehind

her.Leaningback,heclosed

hiseyesandletthecoldness

hehadbeenbattlingconsume

him.Heloweredhismental

barriersandletthathoney

haired,golden-greeneyedgirl

floatintohisemptyheart.

Three

“Yougoddamn

thievinglittlebitch!”

Gloriascreamedas

sheslappedherdaughter

acrosstheface.Itwasclear

Gloriaheldnothingbackas

sheletherhandfly.The

strengthoftheblowsnapped

herdaughter’sheadback,

makingashortburstofspit

spewoutofhermouth.

Exceptitwasn’tjustspit.

Juliancouldseethetingeof

red.

PatrickDentontried

toholdbackhissecondwife

butGloriawashavingnone

ofit.“Don’ttellmehowto

raisemychild,Patrick!”

Gloriascreamedhysterically

asshethrewanotherblow

towardsherdaughter.Butthis

time,thrownoffbalanceby

Patrick’srestrainingarms,her

handonlygrazedacrossher

daughter’scheeks,leaving

brightredscratches.

“She’smydaughter

toonow!”Patricksaid,

desperatelytryingtoraisehis

voiceaboveherstrangled

cries.Ashewrestledwiththe

half-crazed,half-hysterical

woman,helookedtowards

hissixteen-year-oldsonwho

wasalreadycrouchedover

hisstepsister,gatheringher

intohisarms.

“Julian,takeKaren

upstairs,please,”hesaidas

hewrappedhisarmstightly

aroundhiswife’smiddle.

Gloriathrewherheadback

andgaveoutaloudwailasif

shehadbeentheonewhohad

beenviciouslystruckand

beaten.

Juliandidn’tneedhis

fathertotellhimwhattodo.

Hehadbeenthefirstoneto

runintothelivingroomas

soonashehadheardGloria’s

voice.Hehadquicklylearned

hisstepmother’svocal

inflectionssohecouldknow

whentoanticipatehermoods.

Thehigh-pitchedtoneswere

indicativeofanemotional

explosion.

Andtheoneshe

alwaystargetedwiththese

explosionswasKaren.

Gentlypickingup

thelittleten-year-oldgirl,he

carriedheruptohisroom.

Onceinside,heshuthisdoor

thenstrodeovertohis

window.PuttingKarendown,

heopenedthewindowand

steppedoutontotheroof.He

turnedaroundandreachedfor

thelittlegirl.Theroofwas

theonlyplacewherethey

coulddrownoutthecriesof

Gloria.

Karen’slittlehand

grabbedontoJulian’sasshe

carefullysteppedouttojoin

him.Herfacewasswollen

andredbutdry.Karenrarely

cried.

AlthoughKarenhad

onlybeeninhislifeforonlya

littleoverayear,Julianfelt

incrediblyprotectiveover

her.Howcouldhenot?

Lookingatthelittlegirlas

shesteppedoveraloose

shingle,Julianfelthisheart

constrictatseeingher

batteredcheek.

Smallforherage,

Julianhadneverseensucha

childbefore.Quiet,sweet,

andabsolutelyangelic,she

hadthetimidpersonalityofa

mouse.Herdarkhoney

coloredhairreachednearlyto

herelbows.Herroundface

wassoftandfair(whennot

marredwithbruisesor

scratches).Butitwasher

eyesthatalwayselicitedthe

biggestresponsefrom

strangers.Largegreeneyes

withflecksofgold—they

madeherlooklikealife-

sizeddoll.Butinsteadof

imbuingherwithachildlike

innocence,hereyesexudeda

sadnessthatseemedmuchtoo

heavyforsomeoneofher

years.

“Comesitbyme,”

Juliansaid,openinghisarms

toher.Karennestledherself

nexttohim,movingsilently.

“It’sbecauseyou

alwaysforgettogiveherher

lunchmoney,sweetheart!She

wasn’tstealing!”Patrick’s

voicecouldbeheardechoing

throughthehouse.Godonly

knewwhattheneighbors

thoughtofthem.“Shewas

hungry!Shewasgetting

moneyforlunch!”

“Thievingbitch!”

Gloriascreamed.

Angerboiledwithin

Julian.Gloriahadn’t

forgottentogiveKarenher

lunchmoney.Shepurposely

hadwithheldit.Itwasasif

GloriawaiteduntilKaren

becamesodesperatethatshe

wouldhavetosneakmoney

sothatGloriacouldfinally

havehertempertantrum.

“Whatdidyoudoat

schooltoday?”Julianasked,

moretodistractKarenfrom

theshoutingthananything

else.

Hisarmswrapped

aroundherfragileshoulders,

hecouldfeelhershakeher

headnoncommittally.

“Anythingfun?”hepressed,

wantingtogethermindoffof

theevening’sdrama.

Julianwaited

patiently,wantingtogive

Karenachancetospeak.She

wassoquiet.Withsucha

loudanddramaticmother,it

seemedasifKaren’sown

voicehadnevergottena

chancetodevelop.

“Idrewatree,”

Karenwhispered.

“Youdrewatree?”

Julianaskedencouragingly.

“Whatkindofatree?”

“Abigone.Bigones

can’tbemoved.”

Julianpausedatthat.

Whatastrangeresponse.

“Andlittletreescanbe

moved?”

Karengaveasmall

nod.“PrincipalAverymoved

abunchofsmalltreestothe

frontoftheschoollastweek.”

OhIsee,hethought,

suddenlyrealizingwhatshe

wastalkingabout.Theschool

hadplantedarowofsmall

saplingsatthebackofthe

playgroundwhenthe

principalhadachangeof

heartandhadthemuprooted

andmovedtothefrontofthe

school.Toatenyearold,that

must’velookedlikequitea

feat—tomoveatree.

“Whydidyoudraw

abigtreethen?”Julianasked.

Therewasasilence

beforeKarensoftly

whispered,“Iwanttobeabig

tree.”

Itwassosoft,Julian

wasn’tsureifhehadheard

heratall.

ButKarencontinued,

alittlelouder,“IfIwasabig

tree,Icouldn’tbemoved.I’d

gettostaywhereIwanted

andwouldbetoobigfor

someonetopushme.”

Wrappingherarmsaround

herknobbyknees,shetucked

herheaddown.“Iwanttobe

abigtree.”

Sixweekslater,

Gloriadisappearedwith

Karen,leavingnotraceof

theirwhereabouts,savethe

trailofbrokenandconfused

hearts.

Julianlookedupat

thehighceilingsofhisoffice.

Itwasgettingharderand

hardertobringforthKaren’s

memory.Ithadbeensomany

yearsnow.Allhismemories

ofthelittlegirlwerenowjust

faintimpressions—flashof

goldenhair,abrushofher

knobbyknees.Hecould

barelyrememberherfeatures

orhervoice.Andthefamily

hadhardlybeentogetherlong

enoughtotakeanydecent

photographs.Thathadbeen

especiallyhardforhisfather

sincePatrickhadnothingto

showthepolicewhenfilinga

missingperson’sreport.

Shewouldbetwenty

fiveyearsoldnow.Wouldhe

evenrecognizeherifhesaw

her?Juliansatupashe

lookedacrosshisdesk.Trisha

hadleftthefoldersof

potentialnewassistants.

Insideweresixneatlyprinted

resumes.Onethingwasfor

sure:ifKarensawhimtoday,

shewouldnotrecognizethe

manhehadbecomeatall.

Four

CoraRámonquickly

steppedoutofthesubway

andshovedherwaythrough

thecrowdofpeople

streamingagainsther.She

grippedherjackettightly,

coveringherwhiteblouse.

Thelasttimeshehad

carelesslyshovedthroughthe

subwaylikethis,amanhad

spilledhiscoffeedownthe

frontofherblouse.Today,of

alldays,shecouldnotrisk

suchanaccident.

Assheskippedup

thestepsofthesubwayexit,

shetriedtobreathethrough

herrisingnerves.Todaywas

herfinalinterviewwithJB

Enterprises,theinternational

businessempire.The

companyhadfingersin

seeminglyeveryindustry.

Fromshippingtotechnology,

thereseemedtobenothingJB

Enterprisesdidn’tdo.Andif

thatwasn’tintimidating

enough,Corawasaboutto

interviewforapositionasthe

CEO’sownpersonal

assistant.

Streetlevelnow,

Coraranaquickhand

throughhershortbrownhair.

Itwasafunnything.She’d

noticemostwomenin

corporateAmericahadeither

longhairthatwasalways

pulledbackintoanelegant

chignonorbunortheyhad

veryshort,almost

androgynous,haircuts.Cora,

withherchinlengthboband

errantwavystrands,hada

livedinlookaboutherhair

anditwasoftenfrowned

upon.

Coraknewshe

should’vechangedherhair

immediatelyonceshehad

learnedwhichwaythe

corporatedresswindblewbut

bythatpointshehadgivenup

oralteredsomuchofherself

already.Shejustwantedto

keeponething,nomatter

howsillyorsmall,toherself.

Pullingoutthetiny

yetchicbusinesscardforJB

Enterprises,Corareoriented

herselfwiththetargetaddress

beforebrisklywalkingdown

FifthAvenue.

DownFifthAvenue,

shepassedbythebeautiful

manicurednatureofCentral

Park.ShewatchedUpper

WestSidemomsinexpensive

yogapantsjoggingthrough

thewoodedtrails.Children

laughedastheyplayed

aroundtherimofafountain.

Shesawonelittlegirlpetting

adogwalker’smanyclients.

Nomatterhowlong

shelivedinNewYork,Cora

didn’tthinkshe’deverget

usedtosuchacity.Itwasjust

sodifferentfromthewayshe

grewup.Shehadnevereven

heardofyogauntilshehad

comeintothecityfouryears

ago.Thefirsttimeshewas

introducedtotheideaofdog

walkers,Coralaughed.The

ideawassoludicrous.She

wasusedtostraysandvicious

muttsroamingalleyways,

halfstarvedandsometimes

rabid.

Butthenagain,

southernMexicowasquitea

differentplacethanNew

YorkCity.Andpovertyin

Mexicowasacompletely

differentbeastthanpovertyin

NewYork.

Corastillhadvivid

recollectionsoflivingina

roomthesizeofacoffinwith

wallsmadeentirelyoutof

scavengedcorrugatedsteel.

Whenitrained,thesound

wouldbedeafeningasthe

dropsechoedacrossthe

metal.Shewouldneverforget

thetasteofsourcheeseor

stalebread.Andthesounds

ofemptyclinkingbeerbottles

whichmeanthermotherhad

spentwhatevermoneythey

hadscroungedonalcohol

wouldechoinhermind

forever.

Onceshehadsaved

enoughmoneytofindher

waytotheborder,Corahad

hadtofigureouthowtodeal

withtheguiltofleavingher

mother.Althoughshehad

neverbeenanurturingfigure,

hermotherwasstillher

mother.Butitwasactually

hermotherwhomadethe

decisionforherbyleaving

suddenlywithnothingbuta

fewpesosandanotesaying

thatCorawasnowold

enoughtotakecareof

herself.Andatnineteen,Cora

agreed.

Ithadn’tbeeneasy

crossingtheborderbutthanks

tothekindofunderworldlife

hermotherhadlived,Cora

hadbeenintroducedtoa

numberofdubious

characters.Butdubiousor

not,someofthemhad

legitimatecontacts.Corahad

notonlycrossedtheborder

butshehadbeenabletocross

withfakepapersinhand.She

hadanewIDandpassport

thathelpedherrefreshand

startanewinthecountryof

opportunities.

Coracrossedon58th

Streetandfoundherself

staringupatanenormously

impressivebuilding.It

certainlywasn’tthetallest

buildinginNewYorkbutit

wasbeautifullyconstructed

withsimple,cleanlinesthat

spokeofrefinedtaste.

Thiswasit.Ifshe

gotthisjob,shewouldfinally

beabletotakeinherfirsttrue

breathsincearriving

stateside.Thisjobwould

offerherafuture,asenseof

stability,andopportunities

forthefuture.Thiscouldbe

themomentshecouldtruly

leavethatimpoverishedlittle

girlfromMexicobehind.

Steppingintothe

coolmarbledlobby,she

headedtowardsthefront

desk.Astylishlydressed

womanlookedupather

expectantly.

Coraclearedher

throatbeforesaying,“I’m

heretoseeMr.Julian

Benedict.”

Five

Itwasherhairthat

caughthiseye.Itwastoo

youthful.Aspunkyshort

mahoganybobwithstrands

oflightergoldpeeping

through.Itperfectlyframed

herheart-shapedfacebutit

wasstillhighlyirregularofa

look.WhywouldTrisha,the

womanwhohadworna

Chanelscarftoworkevery

dayforthepastsevenyears,

givetheokayonsuchagirl?

Theslimlittlepixie

tooktheseatacrosshisdesk.

Withoutsayingaword,Julian

tookhistimeinassessingher.

Hisdarkeyesrovedacross

herfaceandbody.Heusually

wasquitegoodatassessinga

personfromtheirbody

languagealone.Kneestightly

pressedtogether.

Nervousness.Thatwas

natural.Mosteveryonefelt

nervousmeetinghim,

especiallywhenhespentthe

firstminutesilentlyassessing

them.Handsplacedovereach

otherbutwithrelaxedfingers.

Soshehadacoolheadeven

whenstressed.Thatwasa

plusinanassistanttoamajor

CEO.Shouldersslightly

slumpedforward.Unease.

Again,thatwas

understandable.Thegirl

lookedlikeshewasbarely

outofhighschool.Shehardly

lookedoldenoughtobein

theworkforce,letalonein

thehighflyingfieldof

internationalcorporations.

ButasJulian’seyes

slowlymovedup,hewas

surprisedtoseethegirlraise

herchinabit,liftinghereyes

defiantlyathim.Alowboil

ofangerandjudgment

simmeredinherfaceasshe

haughtilyraisedabrow,

asking,“Seenyourfill?”

Julianfeltsurprise

andangershootthroughhim,

alongwithaheftyurgeto

laugh.

Whythatlittlebrat.

“Yes,ofwhatthere

istosee,”herepliedcoolly.

Hesawhershrinkbacka

littleatthecoldnessofhis

voice.Butherfacestill

remainedstubbornlydefiant.

“Ofwhatthereisto

see?”sherepeated.

Julianpickedupher

resume.CoraRámon.

Interestingname.“Yes,”he

replied.“Thereisn’tmuch,is

there?”Hedidn’tknowwhy

hefeltsuchaneedtoneedle

thisgirl.Hecouldseeher

eyebrowsnearlyhither

hairlineathisresponse.He

wavedthepieceofpaper.

“Youhavelessthanfive

yearsofcorporateexperience.

Granted,theexperienceyou

dohaveisquiteimpressive

butregardless,it’savery

shortworkhistory.”Putting

theresumebackdown,he

steepledhisfingers.“How

didyouhappentogetthe

assistantpositionforHarold

Grayson?GraysonTechisa

Fortune500company,after

all.”

Corapulledbackher

shoulders.“Iknowit’sa

Fortune500company,Mr.

Benedict,”shesaidevenly.

Hecouldseeshewas

bristlingathistone.“Iwasan

assistanttotheCEOofthe

company,afterall.”The

deliberatematchinhistone

andwordsnearlymade

Julian’slipstwitch.

Corasighedquietly

beforecontinuing,“Igotthe

jobbecauseofMr.Grayson’s

dog.”

NowitwasJulian’s

turntoraisehisbrows.

“Pardonme?”

“Mr.Grayson’sdog.

Irescuedhim,”shesaid,

slowlyenunciatingeachword

asifspeakingtoadeaf-mute.

Julianknewshewaspaying

himinkindforhis

condescensionearlierandhe

wasnotenjoyingit.Hiseyes

narrowed.

“Andhowdidyou

rescuehim,MissRámon?”

“Mr.Graysonlikes

tobringhisdogintothe

officeeverysooften.I

happenedtobetherethatday

inquiringaboutadifferent

position,”Coracoughed

quietly.Itwasajanitorial

positionbutnoneedtogive

thisaloofandrudemanmore

ammo.“Hisdogbrokefree

fromtheleashanddashed

towardsthestreet.LuckilyI

wasrightattheedgeofthe

blocksoashepassedme,I

grabbedhimbythecollarjust

asacabdrovepastus.”They

hadbeensoclose,Cora’s

nosehadnearlybrushedthe

taxidoor.

Julianlookedather

withanexpressionof

disbelief.“Andbecauseof

that,youbecamepersonal

assistanttoaFortune500

CEO?”

“Rescuinghisdog

gavemetheopportunityto

speakwithhim,”Corasaid,

stiflinganirritablesigh.Why

didthismanmakeherfeelso

defensive?“Andhemust’ve

seenhowdeterminedIwas

becausehegavemethe

opportunitytotakeoverfor

oneofhisassistantswhowas

leavingformaternityleave.I

wassupposedtobetherefor

eightweeksbutIendedup

stayingforoverfouryears.”

Coratookadeepbreath,

tryingtorememberwhyshe

washere.“I’velearnedalot

duringmytimeatGrayson

Tech.I’vegained

innumerableskillsthatIthink

couldserveJBEnterprises

well.”

“Itsoundslikeyou

werequitewell-establishedat

Grayson.Whyareyou

leavingthen?”Julianasked.

Althoughitseemedlikea

strokeofluckforthisgirlto

landsuchahighprofilejob,it

wasobviouslyhershrewd

intelligenceandmotivation

thatkeptherthereforfour

years.

Coralookeddownat

herhands.“Mr.Grayson,

althoughextremelykind,is

veryoldfashioned.He

doesn’tlikepersonalchange

andsokeepshisemployeesin

thesamepositionforyears.

Hehadtwootherassistants

andtheyhavebeenworking

forhimforoverfifteenyears.

Theyknowthattheyhave

reachedtheircareerceiling

withGraysonTechandMr.

Graysonhimself.”Cora

tuckedbackaloosestrandof

hair.“Butthat’snotwhatI

want.Iwanttoworkforan

employerwhovaluesinternal

growth.”

“AndyouthinkI’m

suchaperson?”

“IthinkJB

Enterprisesissuchan

employer,”Corasaid,

markedlymakingapointon

separatingJulianfromJB

Enterprises.Damnifthisgirl

didn’tinfuriateandamuse

himatthesametime.

“Andwhatareyou

foundingthisopinionon?”

“ArchieMorganwas

anassistantinaccountingfor

JBEnterprises.Whenhe

createdanewprogramto

streamlinemultiplerevenue

sourcesintoonecloud-based

reportingsite,JBEnterprises

fundedhisprogram,

promotedhim,andeven

createdasoftwaredivision

basedonhisaccounting

programs.JBEnterprises

seemsliketheyvaluegood

employees,”Corafinished

conclusively.

Andthegirlknows

toresearch.Juliancouldn’t

helpbutfeelthereluctant

bloomofadmirationforher.

Butstill.GraysonTechwasa

Fortune500company.JB

EnterprisesisaFortune100

company.AFortune5,really,

iftheyevermadesuchalist.

Itmightnotseemlikeitto

her,butthetwocompanies

andtheirassociated

workloadswereworldsapart.

“YousayMr.

Graysonhadtwoother

assistantsalongwithyou.So

threetotal,”hesaid,raisinga

browforconfirmation.Cora

noddedhesitantly,unsure

wheretheconversationwas

going.“JBEnterprisesbrings

inaboutahundredfiftytimes

moreinprofitthanGrayson

TechandasCEO,Iprefer

havingonlyoneassistant.

Youcanimaginethenthe

kindofworkthisassistant

wouldbedoing.”

Coraswallowed.She

nodded.Sheremembered

Trishaexplainingthisduring

herfirstroundofinterviews.

Shecouldn’tbelievesucha

manasJulianBenedictwould

onlyuseoneassistant.Even

withthree,Mr.Grayson’s

officeranatafreneticpace.

Trishahardlylookedruffled.

Juliancasually

wavedahand.“Haveyou

flownoverseaswithMr.

Grayson?Managed

internationalconferences?

Haveyoucreatedand

dismantledpop-up

committeesandteams,for

researchorotherwise?

Handledtheclosingsof

accountsordealsatthe

executivelevel?”

Cora’sheadnearly

spunatrapidfireof

questions.“Err…no,not

exactly,sir.ButIhaverun

smallteamsforMr.Grayson,

organizingandhandling

mediarelationsand—”

Julianraisedahand,

stoppingher.“Itiswithouta

doubtthatyouareatalented

andhardworkingindividual,

MissRámon.Yourshortbut

veryimpressiveresumesays

itall.Butthisisavery

seriousjobthatrequiresyears

andyearsofexperience.Itis

notsomethingthatcanbe

learnedinafewweeks.”

Julianstoodup.Hedidn’t

knowwhyhischestfeltso

tight,whyhisthroatburned

withregret.“Ithankyoufor

comingandamconfidentyou

willbesuccessfulinwhatever

youdo.Butunfortunately,I

don’tfeelyouaretherightfit

forJBEnterprises.”He

extendedahand.

Itwasashame.He

hadfeltakindofsparkfrom

herthatseemedreminiscent

andfun.Butregardlessofhis

ownfeelings,hecouldn’tlet

hisbusinessorworklifefall

apart.Thatwastheonething

thatneededtobeaconstant

whilehetriedtofigureout

therestofhislife.

Corastoodup.She

couldseeinhisgraniteface

thatarguinghercasewould

havenoeffectonhim.

Feelingbitterdisappointment

risinginherthroat,shetook

hishand.Hiswarmgrasp

nearlyswallowedherown

delicatehandbutalmost

immediatelyheletgoashe

satbackdown.Adismissal.

Coraturnedaround

andwalkedoutoftheoffice

thatheldtheshattered

remainsofherhopesand

future.

Six

“I’llsendoverthe

necessaryinformationtonight

bycourier.Onceyouhave

that,makesureyoukeepin

regularcommunicationwith

me.Iwanttoknowaboutany

clueortrailyoufind,

regardlessofhowsmallitis,”

Juliansaidasheroughly

pulledathistie,looseningits

holdonhisthroat.

“Yougotit,chief.

KarenJudsonorpossibly

Denton.Mother,Gloria.

Althoughforthemtohave

beengonethislong,they

mightbeusingatotally

differentnamebynow,”

Paulson,Julian’snewest

privatedetective,said.

Juliannodded.

Keepingthephonetucked

againsthisshoulder,Julian

shruggedonearmoutofhis

suitjacket.Thenswitching

thephonetotheother

shoulder,shruggedhisother

armfree.Ithadbeenalong

day.Andhavingthree

interviewsaddedtohis

agendahadbeendraining.

“Irealizethatbutso

farallwehavearethenames

shehadpriortogoing

missing.Sousethosetillyou

findsomethingnew.”Julian

feltthetenseknotbetween

hisshouldersgrowingharder.

Paulsonconfirmeda

fewmoredetailsbefore

hangingup.Julianheldthe

phoneinhishandsashetried

torelaxhisbody.Hecouldn’t

shakethecreepingfeelingof

somethingbeing…off.A

bombardmentofmemories

hadattackedhimallday.

Normally,hewasableto

keepmostofitatbay.

Buttoday,hekept

hearingtheechoesofKaren’s

cheeksbeingslapped.He

keptseeingtheflashesof

purpleandgreenbruises.

WithamotherlikeGloriaas

herkidnapper,whocould

knowwhathellKarenhad

beenenduringthesepast

fifteenyears?

Heknewthehellhis

fatherhadenduredafter

Gloriahadleft.Howhehad

crumbledandfallenapart.

PatrickDentonhadbeena

brilliantmechanicalengineer

withabrightcareeraheadof

him.Butoncehehadfallen

forthevolatileandviolent

Gloria,nothingmatteredto

himexcepther.Hecouldfind

nofaultinthewoman,even

whenshewouldabuseher

owndaughter.Julianknew

hisfather,uponfallingin

love,hadrenouncedall

loyaltiestoanyone(including

hisson)exceptGloria.

Ithaddisgusted

Juliantoseehowcompletely

blindedhisfatherhadbecome

byhisso-calledlove.Love

hadmadehimcomplicitin

violenceandabuse.Lovehad

madehimforgethisdutiesas

afatherandprotector.And

forthatheandespecially

Karenhadsuffered.

Julianhadtriedhis

best.Herememberedthe

countlesstimeshehadtried

tobarricadeKarenbehind

himasGlorialetlooseher

hailstormofslapsandkicks.

Somanytimeshehadcarried

abatteredKarentobed,

sittingnexttohertillshehad

relaxedandfeltsafeenough

togotosleep.“I’llalwaysbe

here,Kar,”hehadwhispered

toher.“I’llalwaysbeherefor

you.Don’tbeafraid.”

Julian’sthroat

tightenedasheremembered

thepromisehehadconstantly

madebuthadneverbeenable

tokeep.

OnceGloriahad

disappeared,Patrickhadlost

allwilltomoveforward.He

lefthisjob,gaveup

engineering,andbecame

obsessedwithfindinghis

wife.Soobsessedhadhe

become,hewouldoften

forgettopaytheelectricbill

orbuyfoodforthetwoof

them.

Patrick’sfirstwife,

Julian’smother,haddied

whenJulianwasonlytwo.

Julianhadnorecollectionsof

hismotherbuthewascertain

hisfatherhadnotfallenapart

thenashehadforGloria.

Julianhadnever

beenmorebitterly

disappointedorangrywith

someoneashehadbeenwith

hisfather.Anditwasthanks

tohisfatherthatJuliangot

hisfirstlessononlove:itwas

dangerous.

Leftuncontrolled

anditcoulddestroyaman.

AndJulianhadworkedhard

toleavebehindeverything

thathisfatherhadruinedto

buildupanewlifesetonthe

groundsofdistance,control,

andpower.Hewouldnever

makethemistakeshisfather

made.

Hewouldonlytry

andfixthem.

Well,fixoneof

them.

Feelingasurgeof

suddenanger,Julianturned

aroundandslammedthe

phonebackintoitsreceiver.

Goddamntheman.

Ifhisfatherhadhad

justevenamomentofclarity

thathadn’tbeenblurredby

hisloveforGloria,he

would’veseenhow

desperatelyalittlegirlneeded

rescuingandprotection.But

insteadhehadletherslip

throughthecracksandaway

fromJulian.

Athissudden

slamming,asmallmountain

offoldersspilledfromhis

desk.Cursing,helooked

downattheseaofscattered

papers.Ontopofthepile

restedasingleneatlytyped

resume.

CoraRámon.

Throughouttheday,

hehadfoughtandwrestled

withhispersonaldemons.He

hadtriedtoholdbackhis

angerandregretasheclosed

mergersandsignedcontracts.

Butitwasonlyduringthat

smallsliverofaninterview

thathehadfeltanyfreedom

fromhisburdens.Hehad

beensurprisedwithhow

muchthegirlhadgottenhim

tofeelinsuchashortamount

oftime—anger,delight,

laughter,admiration.He

couldhardlyrememberthe

othertwocandidateshehad

interviewedthatday.

Asoftknockechoed

throughhisofficebefore

Trishagentlyopenedthe

door.Shemust’veheardhim

slamthephone.

“Doyouneed

anythingelsefortonight?”

sheasked,makingno

mentiontothescattered

foldersorhisdisheveled

appearance.

Eveninghadfallen

andtheworkdaywasover.

Julianwantednothingmore

thantogohomeandstand

underahotshower.“No,

Trish,I’mgoodfortoday,”he

said,lookingdownatthe

scatteredpapers.

Adecisioncameto

him.Itwasimpulsiveand

maybeabitrecklessbuthe

wasinneedofsomekindof

respitefromhimself.And

thereseemedtobeonlyone

personwhocouldgiveit.

“Trish,”hecalled

out,“canceltherestofthe

interviews.Iwanttohire

CoraRámon.”

Seven

“Tryandreallylearn

thefirsttimeifyoucan,”

Trishasaidinhersoftbut

authoritativevoice.“I’llbe

leavingthestatewithinafew

weekssoIwon’tbearound

asaresourceforyou.”

Coranoddedasshe

watchedTrishamovequickly

butefficientlyaround.Trisha

motionedforhertoscoother

chairovertohercomputer.

Shereviewedfirsttheemails

thattheCEOreceivedand

howtoprioritizethem.Just

fromthefewdozenthatshe

watchedTrishaanswer,Cora

couldseehowwell

entrenchedthewomanwasin

theCEO’saffairs.Shewas

suddenlybeginningto

understandthescopeofher

responsibilitiesasthe

personalassistanttoJulian

Benedict.

Corastillcouldn’t

believeshehadgottenthe

job.Shehadgonehomeafter

theinterviewwithacheap

bottleofwine,readyto

drownhersorrows.How

couldshehaveblownsuchan

importantinterview?Allof

herdreamsandhopeshad

beendashedwithinthirty

minutes.

Butitwaswhileshe

wasdeepintoherthirdglass

ofwinethatTrishahad

called,offeringthecovetous

job.Corahadnearlydonea

comicalspittakeupon

hearingTrisha’ssoftly

spokenwords.Shecouldn’t

believeit.“Areyousure?He

reallymeantforyoutocall

me?”shehadasked,needing

verification.

Butithadbeentrue.

AndCorahaddressedinher

bestskirtandblousethenext

daytostartaspersonal

assistanttotheCEOofJB

Enterprises.

Exceptnow,several

weeksintohertraining,Cora

wonderedifshereally

should’vebeenofferedthe

job.Trishaspoketovarious

vicepresidentsofdifferent

departmentsasifshewason

parwiththem.Andshe

seemedquiteknowledgeable

aboutalloftheirinternal

discussions.

Corasatquietly

behindTrisha’sown

respectablylargedeskasshe

watchedthewomanwork.

Trishawasconstantly

moving.Corafeltalittle

uneasyanduselessasshe

triedtoabsorbeverything

aroundher.Butwhileshe

watchedTrishatakeacall

fromyetanothervice

president,theothersecondary

phoneonherdeskrang.Cora

putherhandoverthe

receiver,givingTrishaa

questioningexpression.

Trishanoddedherpermission

andCoraansweredthephone.

“Mr.Benedict’s

office.ThisisCoraspeaking.

HowmayIhelpyou?”Cora

asked,usingherbestsmooth

officespeakingvoice.

“Cora?Who’sCora?

Where’sTrisha?”agruff

malevoiceasked.

Thisdidn’tsound

likeanyVP.Hesounded

grizzledandrough-edged.

“Trishaisunavailableatthe

moment.ButIcanassistyou.

MayIaskwho’scalling?”

Coraasked.

“Well,thisis

Paulson.I’mcallingtogive

myweek’sreport.”

“Paulson?Isthat

yourfirstorlast—”

“Paulson?Isthat

Paulsonontheline?”Trisha

askedsuddenly,holdingher

ownphonedownbyher

shoulder.

Coranodded,

surprisedbyTrisha’ssudden

alertness.Immediately,

Trishaexcusedherselffrom

thevicepresidentofoneof

India’slargesttech

companiesandtookover

Cora’sphone.

“Paulson?”she

answered.Trishaimmediately

gotoutanotepadandbegan

takingquicknotes,nodding

asshelistenedtowhatever

thisPaulsonhadtosay.

“Fine.That’sfine.I’llsend

thistoMr.Benedictright

away.Ifhehasanyquestions,

he’llreachyou.”

Trisharippedouther

notesbeforeCoracould

sneakalookandheaded

towardsJulianBenedict’s

office.Turningaround,

Trishasaidsoftly,“Ifyouget

anycallsfromaPaulsonor

Montgomery,immediately

handthemtome.Until

directedbyMr.Benedict,

thosecallsarestrictlyonly

myresponsibility.”

Coranoddedalittle

dumblyasshewatched

Trishadisappearintothe

largeoffice.Whotheheck

werePaulsonand

Montgomery?Andwhydid

theyranksohighinTrisha’s

priorities?Shehadpractically

hungupontheIndiaVPto

speakwiththisPaulson.

Lookingatthe

closeddoubledoorsofJulian

Benedict’soffice,Corafelta

littlebitofenvyatTrisha’s

obviouscloserelationship

withtheCEO.

Mr.Graysonwasa

sixty-fouryearoldmanwho

hadgrownupintherural

partsofOhio.Evenwithhis

wealthandworldly

opportunities,therewasstilla

tingeofcountryignorance

andevenracismthattinged

thewayMr.Graysonspoke.

ButnotwithJulian

Benedict.Fromthemoment

shehadsteppedintohis

office,herhearthadn’t

stoppedthumpingagainsther

ribs.Atwelloversixfeet,the

manhadacommanding

presencethatoozedasenseof

confidenceandpower.Witha

facethatwasbothruggedyet

refined,itwasnowonder

Forbesmagazinehaddubbed

himthe“ModelMillionaire.”

Corashudderedas

sherememberedhowhiseyes

hadcutrightthroughher,as

ifhehadbeenabletosee

straightintoherbeatingheart.

Whenshehadthoughtshe

hadblowntheinterview,

Corahadactuallyfeltatiny

bitrelieved.Howcouldany

sane,red-bloodedwoman

workundersuchaman

withoutconstantlydrooling?

YetCora

rememberedallthenightsher

momhadflirtedforafew

extrapesosorforevenjust

anotherbottleofbeer.She

rememberedhowlowher

momhadstoopedsoshe

couldfindherselfahotmeal.

Thattinshackmade

everythingechoandthe

soundsofamangrunting

echoedloudest.

No,shecouldn’tlet

herselfbedistractedbya

handsomeface.Security,

stability—that’swhyshe

madethatdangerous

crossing.That’swhyshe

movedtoNewYork.That’s

whysheappliedatJB

Enterprises.Shecouldn’tlet

herselflosefocus.

Suddenly,Julian

steppedoutofhisofficewith

Trishafastbehindhim.

“Mr.Adnanhas

calledtoconfirmthelunch

andthedriverisready

downstairs,”Trishasaid,

lookingdownather

smartphonetoconfirmthe

details.

Juliannoddedashe

buttoneduphissuit.Corahad

neverknownamancould

looksolethalinasuit.Julian

didn’tseemtoevennoticeher

ashewalkedrightpassedher

towardstheelevator.Cora

sighed,feelingbothreliefand

regret,whenJuliansuddenly

turnedonhisheelandrapped

hisknucklesonTrisha’sdesk.

Corasnappedher

headup.

“I’dlikeyoutogo

homeearlytodayandpack.A

driverwillcomepickyouup

fromyourplaceatfour,”he

said,hisvoicesolidand

brookingnoargument.

“Pack?”Cora

echoed,feelingconfused.

“WhereamIgoing?”

Julian’sdarkeyes

glimmeredwithateasing

lighteventhoughhisface

remainedplacid.“Paris.”

“Paris!Ican’tgoto

Paris!”Coracriedout.How

couldshesuddenlyjustup

andgotoParis?

Julian’sbrows

knittedtogetherinvague

bewilderment.“Doyounot

haveavalidpassport?”he

asked.

“No,ofcourseIdo,”

Coraquicklyreplied.Of

courseshedid.That’sthe

firstdocumentyouforgeafter

comingacrosstheborder.

Julian’sfacecleared

ashenodded.“Good.I’m

meetingwithsomeofthe

Europeanheadstomorrow

andI’llneedanassistant.”

Coracouldhardly

keepherjawfromdropping

open.“Bu-butIhaven’tquite

yetlearned….Imean,

wouldn’tTrishabe—”

“Trishaneedstostay

heresotherewillbebalance

andorderintheoffice.”

Julianthrewhistrusted

assistantawrylook.Trisha

merelygaveasoftsmile.

“You’llcomewithmeand

learnalongtheway.After

all,”hesaid,givingCoraa

darkteasinglookthatnearly

madeherheartstop,“didn’t

youtellmeyouhadmuchto

offerJBEnterprises?”

Coraremembered

whatshehadsaidduringher

interview.Butthiswasallso

sudden.Shefeltlikesomeone

hadpickedherupandtossed

herintothedeependofa

pool,expectingherto

expertlybackstrokeherway

tosafety.Shecouldn’t

believeshewouldnotonlybe

leavingthecountrybutdoing

italonewithJulianBenedict.

“So,leaveearlyand

pack.Don’tforgetyour

passport,”Juliansaidashe

brisklyheadedtowardsthe

elevatorbeforeCoracould

sayanythingmore.

Paris.CityofLights.

WithJulian

Benedict.TheModel

Millionaire.

Goddammit,Cora

thought.Somuchforbeing

focused.

Eight

“Youknow,people

thinkthemoremoneyyou

have,thebetterresources

you’dclearlyhavetomake

yourselfdisappear.Butit’s

theopposite.Thepooreryou

are,themoreobscureyoucan

makeyourself.It’slike

droppinganeedleintoabig

fuckinghaystack.”

Juliansighed.

“Paulson,isthatyourwayof

tellingmeyouhavenothing

newtoreport?”

Heturnedaroundto

watchCoraspeakwith

someoneinthehangar.They

hadjustlandedinaprivate

airstripjustoutsideParis.It

was2AMandstilldark.

Julianhadpausedbythejet

whenPaulson’scallhad

comein.Hehadmotionedfor

Coratogoahead.Untilhe

knewmoreaboutthelittle

pixie,hedidn’twantherto

knowjustyetabouthis

search.Itwastoopersonalto

revealtojustanybody.

Paulson’shusky

laughcrackledthroughthe

phone.“Ifoundatrailofa

GloriaJudsontraveling

throughUtahandinto

Nevada.InNevadathetrail

kindofdeadendsforawhile.

Ithinktheysetupshopnear

LasVegas.”

Julianfelthisheart

stopandhisthroatclench.He

hadneverheardthisbefore.

Montgomeryhadonlygiven

himinformationaboutthem

thatendedinFlorida,near

Miami,beforelosingtheir

trail.Paulsonhadconfirmed

theMiamidetailslastweek.

Butthis—Utah,LasVegas—

thiswasallnewinformation.

“And?”Julian

demanded,hungryformore.

SoGloriahadmanagedto

schlepKarenallthewayto

Nevada.LasVegasseemed

likeaplacethatwouldsuit

Gloria’spersonality.How

longdidtheystaythere?

WhatdidGloriadotomakea

living?Whotookcareof

Karen?Wheredidshegoto

school?

“That’sit,fornow,”

Paulson’sgruffvoicesaid

plainly.“ItendsthereandI

can’tseemtopickthemup

anywhereafterwards.I’mstill

snoopingaroundLasVegas

andIthinkIhavesomeleads

thatmighttakemenorth

towardsCarsonCity.I’lllet

youknowsoon.”

Juliansighed

aggrievedly.Thelittletasteof

informationhaddrivenhim

madformore.“Finethen.

Sendanyexpensereceiptsto

Trisha.”Withthat,he

snappedhisphoneclosedand

headedtowardsthehangar

whereCoraandaprivatecar

waited.

“Doyouspeak

Spanish?”Juliansuddenly

asked.

Corastartledinher

seat.Sheturnedawayfrom

thetintedcarwindow

towardsthetallCEOsitting

nexttoher.Hislonglegs

werestretchedoutinfrontof

himinadeceptivelylazy

pose.ButCorawasn’tfooled.

Shecouldfeelakindof

restrainedenergycrackling

aroundhim.

Sincethephonecall

hehadansweredatthe

airstrip,Julianhadbeen

incrediblyquiet.Theirrideso

farhadbeenoneofcomplete

silence.Corahadjustbeen

relievedtomakeittoParisin

onepiece.Shehadbeen

terrifiedtouseherforged

passportforthefirsttimein

years.Butwiththenameof

JulianBenedictbehindher,

hardlyanyeyebrowshad

beenraisedandshehadflown

intheluxuryofaprivatejet

withoutanyproblems.

“Yes,Ispeak

Spanishfluently,”Cora

replied.Shewonderedwhat

kindofcallhemust’ve

receivedearliertohaveput

suchanodddampeningon

hismood.

“AnyFrench?”he

askedagaincurtly.His

focusedgazewassetstraight

ahead.Ifhehadn’taskedhis

secondquestion,Cora

wouldn’thaveknownifhe

wasspeakingtoherorthe

driver.

Corashookherhead.

“NoFrench,I’mafraid.”

“Didyoulearn

Spanishathomeorin

school?”Julianaskedinthat

sameabruptmanner.Itwas

thenthatCorarealizedwith

suddenclaritythattheman

wastryingtodistracthimself.

Whateverthephonecallhad

beenabout,itcouldn’thave

beenanythingpleasant.The

manseemeddesperatefor

anykindofdistraction.

“Athome,”Cora

saidwithmoreconfidence,

nowthatsheknewwhatwas

expectedofher.“Igrewupin

Mexico.”

Julianlooked

surprisedandturnedhishead

towardsher.Corafelther

breathstopinherthroatas

shefeltthefullweightofhis

gazeuponher.Andsittingso

cozilynexttothemaninthe

cardidn’thelpeither.

“Whendidyoucome

totheStates?YourEnglishis

impeccable,”hesaid.

Coragaveasmall

smile.Shethoughtbackto

thatfakepassportburninga

wholeinherpurse.She’d

havetotreadcarefullyhere.

“IcametotheStatesabout

sixyearsago.Ispentabout

twoyearsinArizona

hammeringoutmyEnglish

beforeheadingtoNew

York.”

Julianwassilentas

hesoakedintheinformation.

“Andyourfamilyisstillin

Mexico?”

Corathoughtbackto

hermother.Shehadyetto

disassociatetheimageofher

motherwiththesmellof

booze.“AsfarasIknow.”

Julianraisedabrow.

“That’sanoddwaytosay

youkeepintouchwithyour

family.”

Corahuffedasmall

laugh.“Iguessthat’sbecause

Idon’tstayintouchwithmy

family.Sincecomingtothe

States,I’vebasicallybeenon

myown.”

Therewasanother

beatofsilence.

Coracouldseethat

Julianwasstilltense.His

shoulderslookedsostiff,

Corawassureabodybuilder

couldeasilybalanceonthem.

Shefeltabitsorryforhim.It

mustbesuchadrainonhim

tobeasuccessfulCEOand

businessmanatsuchayoung

age.Hewasbarelyover

thirty.Andyetthemanwas

heldinesteemaspartofthe

topechelonofbusiness

acumen.

“Doyouhavealotof

family,sir?”sheasked,trying

toseeifshecouldease

whateveritwasthatwas

distressinghim.

Thechangewas

immediate.Juliansatupin

hisseat,bringinghimtohis

fullestheight.Hisbroad

shouldersandlonglegs

suddenlyseemedto

overwhelmthevehicle.And

hisdarkeyesnearly

blackenedinthedarknessof

earlymorning,makingCora

shudderinvoluntarily.

“No,Idon’t,”he

said,hisvoiceicyand

clipped.“AndI’dappreciate

yourinterestsremainwithin

theprofessionalsphere.”

Coraopenedher

mouth,shockedatthesudden

coldturn.Butbeforeshe

couldfigureoutanyformof

anapology,thecarpulledtoa

gentlestop.

“We’vearrivedat

thehotel,monsieur,”the

driverreplied,politely

neutral.

Julianopenedthe

door.“Goodnight,Miss

Rámon,”hesaidashewalked

offintothemarbledlobby.

Nine

Corapulledather

blouseasshewatchedthe

glasselevatordoorsopen.A

privatedriverhaddrivenher

toatallofficewithincentral

Parisat9AM.Shewas

greetedbytheexecutive

assistantoftheLondon

office’svicepresident.After

verifyingschedulesand

meetings,Corawasdirected

tothe45thfloorwherethe

firstmeetingofthedaywould

beheldat10AM.

Shelookeddownat

herwatch.9:45AM.Julian

Benedictlikedtobeearlyfor

everymeeting.Hewantedto

beabletoassessasituationor

clientpriortosittingdownto

thenegotiatingtable.

Corafeltherpulse

raceasshewatchedthe

elevatordoorsopen.Shehad

tossedandturnedallnight.

AlthoughJulianhadsether

upinabeautifulsuiteinthe

sameluxuryhotelhewas

stayingat,Corafeltlikeshe

hadsleptinabeanbagfullof

straw.

Ofcoursetheman

hadbeenridiculouslyunfair

toher.Afterall,hehadasked

herquestionsabouther

familyandbackground.Soit

wasridiculousforhimto

demandsheremain

professionalwithintheir

relationshipwhenhehad

beenquiteinquisitiveabout

herpersonallife.Yetno

matterhowridiculoushis

angerhadbeen,ithadbeen

genuineanger.AndCorawas

upsetthatshehadcaused

that.

Sheneverwantedan

employertobeangrywithher

butsheparticularlydidn’t

wantJuliantobeangrywith

her.Althoughshehadn’t

knownthemanlong,she

couldseethathewasaman

besetwithburdens.She

couldn’tyetfigureoutif

thesewereallprofessional

burdensorpersonalburdens

—

Corashookherhead.

No,sheknewnow.Afterlast

night’sreaction,hemusthave

somepersonalburdensthat

causehimpainandangerand

evenguilt.Shedidn’tknow

whatshecoulddotomake

thingsright.

Shehadconsidered

callingTrishaforadvicebut

wasworriedshewouldbe

admonishedforprying.

Althoughareservedperson,

Trishawasclearlyvery

protectiveoverheremployer.

No,itwasbettershefigured

outforherselfhowtomake

thesituationright.

Justasshewas

mentallydraftinganapology,

theelevatordoorsopenedand

Juliansteppedout.Dressedin

adarkcharcoalsuitwitha

slimnavytie,helookedlikea

cagedjaguar.Hewasawild

animalthatcoulddressthe

partofacivilizedmanyet

couldbarelyhidetheprimal

rawnessthatlurkedjust

beneaththesurface.

Quickly,Corarushed

tomeethim,herfoldersand

notepadinhand.“Mr.

Benedict,Iwantedtoapolo

—”

“HasDevons

arrived?”Julianinterrupted,

walkingataswiftpace

towardsthemeetingroomat

theendofthehall.

“Yes,sir.Andso

haveMr.MartinandAbrams.

They’reallwaitinginside,”

Corasaidhurriedly,tryingto

keeppacewithhim.“But

beforeyougoin,sir,Ijust

wantedto—”

“Iwantyouto

changethemeetingwiththe

Japaneserepfromone

o’clocktotwo.AndIwantto

cancelwithKlaus.Pushhim

totomorrowafternoon.I

don’twantanymeetings

tonightaftereight.”

Coraquicklytook

notesofhisrequests.But

beforeshecouldmake

anotherattemptat

apologizing,Julianopened

themeetingroomdoors,

greetingthewaitingmen.

Andfortherestof

theday,Corafoundherself

runningbetweenmeetings,

confirmingtimesandwriting

emailswhilealsotaking

carefulnotes.Therewere

literallynomomentsof

privacybetweenthem.Ifthey

weren’tinameeting,they

wererushingofftowardsone

withbothofthemonthe

phonedealingwiththeirown

setofresponsibilities.

EverytimeJulian’s

aloofanddistantgazefell

uponher,shefeltmiserable

inside.Clearlywhatever

intimacyJuliansharedwith

Trisha,hewouldnotbe

sharingwithher.Shehadso

enviednotonlyTrisha’s

respectableloadof

responsibilitiesbutalsoher

closenesswithheremployer.

Corahadsecretlyhopedthe

daythatshewouldbesuchan

assistantwasnotfaroff.

Butwithevery

clippedwordand

dispassionategaze,Cora

realizedthatwhatever

chancestherehadbeenwere

nowcompletelygone.

Byaboutfour

o’clock,Corafoundherselfat

anotherofficebuildingin

Paris.Thisonewasmuch

moresleekwithcoolneutral

colorsandlotsofmetal

accents.Itwasn’tquite

Cora’sstylebutshe

appreciateditsmodernity.

TheywerethereforJulianto

meetwithFrancoisBudoin,

thefashionconglomerateof

Europe.Heownednearly

everyluxurybrandavailable.

Francoiswasaveryprivate

manandpreferredsmall,

privatemeetings.Soaftera

quickroundofintroductions,

JulianenteredFrancois’s

officealone,leavingCorato

exploretheroomyexecutive

floor.

Afterspendingmost

ofthedayrunningaroundin

heels,Corajustwanteda

comfychairtorelaxin.But

lookingaround,alltheseats

wereanoddassortmentof

metalbenchesorstoolsthat

lookedmoreuncomfortable

thanstandinginheels.So

withnootherchoicebutto

walkaround,Corasighedand

walked.

Asshecasually

strolled,enjoyingtheshort

respitefromincessantcalls

andvoices,aflashofcolor

caughtthecornerofhereyes.

Anditonlycaughther

attentionbecauseofallthe

coolgraynessinthebuilding.

Coraturnedandgasped.It

wasabeautifullyvibrant

paintingofblueirises.Set

againstasaturatedyellow

background,thethickblue

andpurplepaintstrokes

shapedthedelicatepetals.

Thecolorswerealmostloud

yetthewiltingflowerslooked

sogentleandlimp.The

colorsweresovivid,the

paintingalmostseemedto

glowwithinthecoldandgray

office.

Coraalmostwanted

tograbtheflowersandinhale

theirscent.Shewantedtorub

eachthicklypaintedpetal.

Theheavinessofthepaint

againstthedelicatenatureof

itssubjectmadeCorafeelan

oddlysadjuxtapositionasshe

gazeduponthepainting.Next

tothepaintingwasasmall

metalplaquereading,“Irises,

VincentVanGogh1890.”

“Ah,yourassistant

hasgoodtaste,Isee!”an

accentedvoiceboomedfrom

theleftofher.

Coraquicklyspun

aroundonherheel.Julianand

Francoiswereexitinghis

office.TheolderFrenchman

beamedatCoraashe

gesturedtowardsthepainting.

“Doesthemademoisellehave

alikingforVanGogh?”he

asked,hisvoicewarmand

rich.

Corablushedand

shookherhead.“Ijust

appreciatehowbeautifulit

is,”shemurmuredquietly.

Shepeekedupthroughher

lashesatJulian.Hegavehera

quizzicallook.Hemustthink

meignorantandfoolish,Cora

thoughtmiserably.Quickly,

shesteppedawayfromthe

paintingandbidFrancois

goodbye.

Astheygotbackinto

thecar,Julianinstructedthe

driverbacktothehotel.“I’ll

needtochangefordinner.

Andyoucantakearest,”

Juliansaid,notlookingup

fromhisphoneashechecked

hismessages.Thedinner

tonightwasprimarilya

meetingdressedupwith

exquisitefood.Butitwasa

meetingnonethelessandCora

wouldn’tbeneededforit.

“Butbereadybyeighttogo

outagain.”

Corawasconfused.

“There’snothingscheduled

though,Mr.Benedict.You

saidyoudidn’twantanything

after—”

Juliannodded.“I

rememberwhatIsaid,”he

repliedshortly.Thecarpulled

uptothehotel.Ashegotout,

hecalledoverhisshoulder,

“Bereadybyeight.”

Ten

“Areyousurethisis

therightplace?”Coraasked

thedriverasshestaredoutin

awe.

“Oui,

mademoiselle,”thedriver

replied.“Mr.Benedictwas

veryspecific.”

Coragulpedand

withoutfurtherargument,

steppedoutofthecar.

Atexactlyeight

o’clock,thehotelfrontdesk

hadcalledtoletherknowher

carwaswaitingforher.

Confused,Corahadcome

downtobegreetedbya

Frenchdriverwhotoldherhe

wastheretotakehertoMr.

Benedict.Filledwith

questionsbutunabletovoice

them,Corahadsteppedinto

thecarwonderingexactly

whatkindofmeetingshewas

goingto.

Asthecardroveoff,

sheheardthesoftlapping

soundsoftheSeinebehind

her.Lightsilluminatedthe

richlyornatebuildinginfront

ofher,makingthewhole

placeglowagainstthedark

nightsky.Withlarge

windowsandbeautifully

sculptedarches,Corawas

sureshewasstandinginfront

ofsomekindofpalaceor

chateau.

Amidstherawe,

Coracaughtsightofawhite-

glovedattendantbythefront

doors,wavingather.Cora

wavedbackandquickly

headedtowardstheentrance.

Theattendantsmiled

andmotionedherin.

“Welcome,mademoiselle,to

theMuséed’Orsay.Please

enter,”hesaidinathickly

accentedvoice.

Cora’seyeswidened

uponhearingthename.She

wasinamuseum?Butasshe

steppedintothecavernous

hall,shesawnooneinside.

Lookingdownbothsidesof

her,shesawrowsandrowsof

paintingswithscattered

sculpturesdownthemiddle.

Yetnotonepersonwastobe

found.Exceptherselfandthe

attendant.

“Ifyou’dplease,”

theattendantsaidwitha

smile,leadingherdowna

largeopenspacewitharching

glassceilings.“Pleasehead

downthiswaytowardsthe

endofthehall.”

Coracouldonlynod

silentlyasshewalkeddown

thespacioushall,surrounded

bythemostfamouspaintings

intheworld.Witheachstep

shetook,hereyesgrewwider

andwider.

Shehadhardlyhad

anyexposuretofinearts

growingup.Butduringher

firstyearinNewYork,she

rememberedwhenthe

MuseumofModernArthad

hadaFreeAdmissionsDay.

Curious,shehadwalkedin

withnoexpectationsofwhat

therewastosee.

Coraendedup

spendinghoursatthe

museum.Shecouldn’ttake

hereyesawayfromthe

paintings.Eachworkseemed

tochipawayandrevealaside

ofherownselfthatshehad

neverknownexisted.With

everypainting,Cora

experiencedadifferentmood

ormentality.Shehadnever

feltsuchpeaceaswhenshe

hadseenMonet’swaterlilies

orsuchrawpassionaswhen

shehadseenPollock’s

splatteredpaint.Awholenew

worldofbreathtakingbeauty

andexhilarationhadopened

upforCorathatday.

Andnowhereshe

was,inParis,walkingdown

theemptyhallsofamuseum

thatheldtheworld’s

masterpieces.Shecould

hardlybelieveit.

Soengrossedwas

sheinadmiringtheworks

thatshehardlynoticedthe

figurestandingattheendof

thehall.Shehadtotearher

gazeawayfromaCézanneto

lookatthebroadshoulders

andlongbackofJulian

Benedict.Hewasstanding

withhisbacktoher,admiring

aRodin.

IfCorahadbeen

shockedtofindherselfinan

emptymuseumatnight,she

wasflabbergastedtosee

JulianBenedictstanding

inside.

“Mr.Benedict?”she

saidtentatively.Shestepped

towardshim,standingnextto

himtoadmirethecurvedand

suppleworkofAuguste

Rodin.

Hiseyesstillfocused

onthemarblestatue,hesaid

inaquietlowvoice,“I’m

sorry,Cora.”

Cora’sheadsnapped

up,surprisedandconfused.

“Iwaswrongtohave

snappedatyoulastnight,”

Juliansaid,hiseyesstill

takinginthesculpture.His

strongjawlineandlongnose

weresoperfect,theycould’ve

beenthesubjectforcountless

sculptures.ButCora’sbreath

wastakenawaywhenhe

turnedhisgazeuponher,his

darkeyeswarmandmingled

withregret.“Forgiveme?”

“I—yes,ofcourse,

Mr.Benedict,”Corasaid,

tryingnottostutter.

“Julian,”hereplied

withasmallsmile.“Tonight

I’mnotapologizingasyour

employer.I’mapologizingas

Julian.”

Corafeltawarmth

blossomwithinher.Emotions

shehadn’tfeltinalongtime

suddenlybegantotrickle

throughher.Howdidthis

manhavesuchaneffecton

her?“Ofcourse,”she

breathedquietly.“Julian.”

Julian’sdarkeyes

crinkledingoodhumor.He

turnedaroundandwavedan

armacrosstheemptyhall.

“Wouldyoulikeatour?”he

asked,lookingbrighternow

thathehadgottenhis

forgiveness.

Coralookedaround,

stillunabletobelieveshehad

allthesegorgeousworksat

herfingertips.“Isthe

museumclosingsoon?There

aren’tanypeoplearound.”A

tourwithJulianasherguide

wouldbewonderfulbutshe

wasquitesuretheywouldbe

kickedoutsoon.

Julianputalarge

handagainstthesmallofher

back,leadingherdownone

rowofpaintings.“The

museumisclosed.Itclosed

abouttwohoursago.”

Coranearlyjumped

atthisinformation.“Oh!

Thenhoware—”

“Isawyouadmiring

thatVanGoghtoday,”he

said,gentlybutfirmlyleading

heron.“Ihadyoucancelmy

plansfortheeveningsoI

couldtakeyououttoalate

dinnertoapologizeformy

atrociousbehavioryesterday.

ButthenwhenIsawhow

muchyouseemedtoenjoy

theVanGogh,Idecidedto

bringyouhere.Icalledthe

curatorandaskedifwecould

haveafewhourstonightto

enjoysomeoftheworks.”

“Youcalledthe

curator….”Coraechoed

faintly.Shecouldn’tbelieve

thathehadcalledthecurator

ofaworldfamousmuseum

justsothatshecouldenjoy

seeingthepaintingsprivately.

Juliandidn’tseemto

takenoticeofherstunned

expression.“Iknowyouseem

tohaveaparticularfondness

forVanGoghbutdoyou

happentolikeManet?This

oneisoneofmyparticular

favorites….”

Andforthenexttwo

hours,Juliangaveheroneof

themostenjoyablenightsshe

hadeverexperienced.The

manseemedtoknow

everythingaboutevery

painting.Hepointedout

beautifuldetailworkwhile

alsoincludinghistorical

tidbitsandquirky

biographicaldetails.Cora

foundherselfadmiringJulian

justasmuchassheadmired

theart.

AndJulianquickly

realizedhowbrightand

sensitiveCoratrulywas.

Althoughherknowledgeof

artmightnotbeextensive,

herinterpretationwas

perceptiveandgenuine.He

couldseehowshefounda

pieceofeachartisttorelate

with,thereforemakingeach

paintingamoreintimateand

personalexperience.

Astheygazedupon

anothergloriousRodin,

Julianclearedhisthroat.

“Tomorrownight,therewill

beaformalcharitygala

sponsoredbyJBEnterprises.

Iwaswonderingifyou’dlike

toaccompanyme.”

Corawasstunned.

Shehadofcourseknown

aboutthegala.Ithadbeen

partofheragenda.Itwasan

eventthatwouldbeattended

bysocialitesandbusiness

magnatesfromallacross

Europe.Butshewasnofool.

Shehadseenthenewspapers

andmagazinesparading

picturesofJulianwith

gorgeousmodelsand

actresses.Shehadassumed

hewouldbeattendingthe

eventwithsomeoneofthe

likeandhadahardtime

believinghecouldn’tfinda

datemoresuitablethan

herself.

“Um…areyou

askingmebecauseoflast

night?Ipromise,Ireallydo

forgiveyou,”Corasaid.

Juliansmiledwryly,

asifshehadsaidsomething

deprecating.“No,”hereplied.

“I’maskingyoubecauseI’d

likeforyoutoattendthe

eventwithme.”Hisbodywas

warmandshecouldfeelhis

heatsurroundandholdher.

Cora’sheart

thumped.“Isitaneventan

assistantwouldattend?”She

wasquitesureshehadnever

seenapictureofTrishaon

Julian’sarmatanykindof

publicfunctionlikeagala.

Julianturned

towardsher.Corafeltlikeshe

couldgetlostintheman’s

eyes,sodarkandfullofdepth

theywere.“No,”hesaid,his

voicelowlikerolling

thunder.Hebrushedhishand

acrosshercheek.Asmile

creasedhisownstubbled

cheek.“Butmaybeit’san

eventafriendmightattend?”

Cora’sbreath

hitchedasshesmiled

irrepressibly.Afriend.“Yes.

Yes,I’llgo,”sheanswered

breathlessly.

Eleven

“Imight’vefounda

newtrail.Ican’tsayforsure

yetbutI’mheadingoverto

followsomenewleads.It

lookslikeGloriaJudsonwas

introublewiththelawinLas

Vegas.Shehightaileditout

ofhereassoonasthecops

startedsniffingaround.I’ll

keepyouposted,chief.”

Thevoicemailbox

beepedthenaskedifhe’dlike

torepeatthemessageor

deleteit.Julianloweredhis

phone.

Anewlead.

Itdidn’tsurprisehim

intheleastthatGloriahad

tangledwiththelaw.She

seemedlikeawoman

hellbentonself-destruction.

Butwhatworriedhimwas

Karen.Hecouldonlyimagine

thekindofchaotictornado

thatchildhadbeentossed

intothankstoGloria.

Juliancouldfeelthe

tensenessgrowingbetween

hisshoulderbladesagain.

Howmuchlongerwouldthis

searchtake?Ithadalready

beenfouryearsnow.He

should’vestartedearlier.

Yearsearlier.Butsomuch

hadtakenuphistimeand

consumedhisenergy,leastof

allbeingJBEnterprises.He

hadletotherstakeawayhis

focusandhehadgotten

distracted.

AlthoughPaulson’s

messagehadbeenpromising,

hehadhadmanyfalsestarts

withMontgomeryandhad

learnedtokeephishopein

check.Ashepulledonhis

blacksuitjacket,hementally

shruggedawayalldarkness.

Hewouldnotmake

thesamemistakeagainwith

Cora.

Somethingabouther

seemedtobringabouta

lightness,aneasewithinhim

andhewantedtoenjoyit

tonight.Asmileplayedathis

lipsashethoughtabouther

openinghissurprise.

Corastaredatthe

largeopenboxonherbed.

Inside,itcontainedthemost

gorgeousgownshehadever

seen.Arichjewelgreensatin,

thedressshimmeredagainst

thelight.

Earlierthatday,as

sheaccompaniedJulian

throughhisbusiness

engagements,Corahad

wonderedhowshewould

possiblyfindsomething

suitableforthecharitygala

tonight.

Shehadonlypacked

workappropriateclothes.

Andeventhose,shehad

quicklyrealized,werequite

belowthefashionable

Parisianstandardstheother

Europeanassistantsandeven

receptionistsadheredto.

Corahadbeenabout

togodownstairstoaskthe

conciergewhereshecould

maxouthercreditcardto

findanappropriateevening

gownwhentherehadbeena

knockatthedoor.

Abellhophad

presentedherwithalargebox

wrappedinasilkywhitebow.

Attachedunderneaththebow

wasasmallwhitecard,

reading,“I’llmeetyou

downstairsateight.”

Corastoodbythe

bed,freshlyshoweredandin

hersofthotelrobe,asshe

gentlystrokedtheexpensive

gown.Shewasalmosttoo

scaredtotryiton.Itwould

undoubtedlybethemost

expensiveitemofclothing

shehadeverworn.But

lookingatit,Coracouldtellit

wasperfectlyhersize.

Howdidheknow?

Suckinginabreath

forcourage,Coraliftedthe

dressoutofthebox.Tonight

shewouldbeshowinguptoa

highlypublicizedeventon

thearmoftheModel

Millionaire.Shewouldbethe

onedancinganddiningwith

JulianBenedict.

Withaflutterof

butterflies,Coraquickly

threwoffherrobe.

Julianleanedagainst

oneofthehotel’smarble

pillarsashewaitedforhis

evening’sdate.Hehadno

doubtinhismindwhohe

wouldwanttospendtonight

with.Nomodeloractress

couldcapturehisattention

andhisheartlikeCoracould

andtheproofwasinhisbody.

Hecouldhardlystandstill.

Hewasactuallyeagertojust

seeher.Itwasafeelinghe

hadn’thadtowardsawoman

inalong,longtime.

Aswishofgreen

caughthiseye.Julianraised

hisheadtolookuponthe

mostbreathtakingsighthe

hadyettoseeinParis.The

formfittinggownswept

acrossherlithefigure,

enhancingeveryalluring

curve.Thestraplessneckline

accentuatedherswellof

creamybreasts.Andthejewel

tonegreenmadeherskin

glowlikewhitesilk.Julian’s

lipstwitchedashisgazemet

herface.Althoughshehad

neverlookedsobeautifulor

soregal,hecouldseeitwas

stillhisCora.Hershortspiky

bobfeatheredaroundher

face,makingherstill

recognizablyCora.

Offeringhisarm,he

smiled,“Shallwe?”

Cora’seyesglittered.

Julianhadnevernoticedhow

greentheywerebefore.The

gownbroughtoutthesoftly

mutedgreen-hazelofher

sparklingeyes.

“Yes,let’s,”she

grinnedasshetookhisarm.

Twelve

Thecamerashad

flashedlikeablindingwave

oflightasCoraandJulian

exitedtheirlimo.Asthey

walkedupthestepstoa

privategallerythatwas

hostingthecharitygala,

camerasflashedand

photographersshoutedfor

onemorepose,onemore

shot.

Corahadassumed

Julianwouldwanttoignore

suchattentionandhead

straightinside.Mostofhis

publicphotoswereofhim

frowningasheguidedhis

datetowardswhateverevent

theywereattending.

Butinsteadof

leadingherstraightintothe

gala,Julianputanarm

aroundherwaist,stoppingin

frontofthecamerastowave

andpose.Coratriednottolet

herjawdropinfrontofthe

photographers.

Thesephotoswould

bepostedworldwidewithina

matterofhours.Shewould

soonfindherselfonthecover

ofnewspapersand

magazines.DidJulianknow

whathewasdoing?Thepress

wouldimmediatelylabelher

asJulianBenedict’snew

mysterywomanwheninfact,

shewasjusthispersonal

assistant.Hewasmakinga

terriblemistake.

ButwhenCora

lookeduptowarnhim,he

gaveheralazy,devastating

smile.“Alittlecamera-shy,

arewe?”heteased.

Coralookedintohis

warmgaze.Hedidknow

whathewasdoing.Hewas

doingthisonpurpose.Asan

irresistibleheatbloomed

withinher,shegavehima

glintingsmile.“Notatall,”

sherepliedsoftlyasshevery

obviouslyleanedherheadon

hisshoulderinavery

intimateandpublicgesture.

Shecouldhearthe

paparazzinearlyclimbingon

eachothertogetashotofthe

couple.Corahadwonderedif

Julianwouldimmediately

pullawaybutinsteadhe

wrappedhisarmeventighter

aroundherwaist,pullingher

close.Cora’ssmilebroadened

asshelookedtowardsthe

blindingcameraflashes.

Insidetherichly

decoratedgallery,chandeliers

glitteredacrosstheroom,

castingabeautifullyfantasy-

likeambiance.Suitedwaiters

flittedacrossthefloorwith

traysofchampagne.

Astheyenteredthe

dimlylithall,Juliansnatched

uptwoflutesofchampagne,

handingonetoCora.Each

withaconspiratorialsmile,

theyclinkedglassesasthey

drank.

Corafeltlikeshe

wasdreaming.Thetinshack.

Hermother.Theempty

bottlesofalcohol.Thestale

andscavengedfood.Theyall

seemedlikeanightmarethat

hadhappenedeonsago.

Tonight,with

endlessglassesofchampagne

andJulian’sstrongarm

aroundher,seemedlikea

wonderfuldreamthatshe

hopednevertowakeupfrom.

Itseemedlikeallthe

heartbreakandbroken

promisesshehadleftbehind

inMexicocouldnevertouch

herinsuchamagicalplace.

Shewaswearingabeautiful

gowninPariswiththeModel

Millionaire.Buthewasmore

thanjustahandsomeface.

Shecouldsensea

warmthwithinhim.There

wassincerityandtruthinhim

aswell.Sherememberedhow

simplyhehadapologizedto

herattheMuséed’Orsay.No

excuses,noblaming.Hehad

justapologizedandhadeven

explicitlyaskedforher

forgiveness.

Thiskindofcaring

inamanwassomethingshe

hadnotfeltinsuchalong

time.Itmadeherfeelsafe

andwarm.

Corasippedanother

glassofchampagneasshe

watchedJulianspeakwitha

businesscolleague.Shehad

cometoNewYorkwiththe

intentofmakingan

independentlifeforherself,

freeofanyemotionaltiesor

baggage.Thatincludedmen.

Toomanydisappointments

andheartbreakshadtaught

Coraearlyonthatshewould

bebetteroffonherown.

Butasshewatched

couplesdanceandlaugh

together,Corawantedthe

exactopposite.Shewanted

someonetoholdher.She

wantedsomeonetokeepher

close.Shewantedsomeoneto

kissher.

Itwaswellpast

midnightwhenCorafound

herselfinaprivatealcove

withJulian.Atinybitdrunk

onchampagne,sheleaned

againsthissolidchestasthe

softmusicplayedaround

them.Julianhadhisarm

comfortablyaroundher.

Feelinghisbody,his

heat,Coraliftedherhead.

Restingherchinplayfullyon

hischest,shesaid,“Youdid

notinvitemeheretonightas

yourassistant,oui?”

Juliangrinned,

takingCora’sbreathaway.

“Oui.Ididnot.”

Corarestedahand

onhischest,rightabovehis

heart.“Andrightnow,Iam

notyourassistant,sí?”

“Feelingquite

linguisticallyinternational

tonight?Sí,noeresmi

asistenteahora.”

Corasmiledfaintly

athisSpanishbutshe

loweredherhead,brushing

herforeheadagainsthischest.

“Butlatertonight?WillIgo

backtothehotelasyour

assistant?”Corawatchedher

breathflutterJulian’sshirt

front.

Therewasabeatof

silence.Coracouldfeelthe

steadythumpofJulian’sheart

underherhand.

Thenalargehand

liftedherchin.Withasteady

gaze,heanswered,“No,not

ifyouwillstaywithme.”

Andwiththat,heswooped

down,capturingherlipsina

roughandbrutalkissthatleft

Cora’slipsfeelingbattered

andbruised.

Histongueplunged

intohermouth,capturingand

owningallofit.Herpulse

quickenedandshecouldfeel

herbodytighteninginarousal

underneaththegown.

Althoughhiddenbythe

alcove,Julianswitchedtheir

placessohisbackwas

towardstheopenspace,

furthershelteringand

coveringCora.Alargehand

plungeddownthefrontofher

dressandsqueezedoneofher

creamybreasts.Corabarely

bitbackamoan.Withthumb

andforefinger,Julianpinched

hernipple,sendingashoot

rocketofpainstraightdown

toherpussy.Hecapturedher

lipsinanotherkissbefore

Coracouldopenlymoan.

Arousalsizzled

acrossCora’sbodyandshe

couldseeJulianfightingthe

samebattle.Pullingupher

dressandcoveringheragain,

heleaneddownandnippedat

thelobeofherear.“Giveme

fiveminutestohavethe

driverpullaround.”And

beforeshecouldanswer,he

stoleanotherkissthen

disappeared.

Corahadnotimeor

attentiontoadmireJulian’s

extravagantlyluxurious

penthousesuite.Assoonas

theywereabletoclosethe

door,theirbodiesflew

towardseachotherliketwo

magnets.

Julianroughlypulled

offtheexpensivedress,

leavingCorainherlacebra

andpanties.Hepausedto

admirehersoftcurvesand

sweetbodybutwastoo

overwhelmedwithhis

consumingneedforherto

stopwhathewasdoing.

Ashetookanother

tasteofherlips,helaidher

outonthebed.Plunginghis

handdownherpanties,he

foundherwetandswollen

folds.“Goodgirl,”he

murmured,feelingher

readiness.

Hisexpertfingers

gaveherpussyahardstroke,

makingCoraarchherback

andmoan.“Ohgod,”she

groaned.

Withhisotherhand,

Julianpusheddownthebra

cups,revealingCora’s

beautifullyfullbreasts.He

leaneddowntotonguea

nipple.Coraranherfingers

throughhishair.Herbody

quiveredaspleasurewracked

throughher.

Expertly

fingerfuckingher,Julian

raisedhisheadupandlooked

downatCora’sflushedheart-

shapedface.“You’re

beautiful,Cora,”he

murmured.“Fucking

beautiful.”

Hehadn’thadsuch

unplanned,unrestrainedsex

inyears.ButJulianBenedict

wasstillamanwhoenjoyed

control,evenduring

spontaneoussex.Ashefelt

Cora’sbodytighteningin

preparationforherorgasm,

Juliangaveherswollenclita

lightpinch—justenoughto

makehercryoutformore—

beforepullinghishandaway.

Cora’shead

immediatelyshotupfromthe

pillow.“Whydidyoustop?”

sheaskedbreathlessly,her

bodyalreadysquirmingfor

more.Corawrappedherhand

aroundhiswrist,futilely

tryingtoencourageitto

continue.

“Begforit,”Julian

commanded.Hestretchedhis

tallbodyagainstthelengthof

hers.Grabbingbothofher

wristsinonehand,hepinned

themupaboveherhead,

makingherbackarchup.

Cora’seyeswidened.

“Julian,”shewhispered.

“Begtocome,”

Juliansaidunrelentingly.His

fingerslightlyteasedagainst

herfolds,muchtoosoftlyfor

hertogetoffyetjustenough

tokeepherontheedge.

“Ohgod,please,”

shewhined,tryingtopullher

wristsagainsthishand.

Julianroughlystole

anotherkissfromher.“You

candobetterthanthat.Please

what?”

Coracouldn’t

believewhathewasmaking

herdo.“Please,Iwantto

come,”shecried,herfacehot

withembarrassmentand

wantonneed.“Ineedto

come!Please!”

Julian’steethlightly

clampedagainstahelpless

nipplemakingCorabreathe

inahissingbreath.Thepain

onlyheightenedherpleasure

andheclearlyknewit.

“Howdoyouwant

tocome?”heaskedcalmly

eventhoughhiscockwas

readytoburst.God,when

wasthelasttimehehadbeen

thisaroused?

Coralooked

pleadinglyupathimbutshe

couldseethesolidsteeliness

ofhiseyes.Hewouldnot

budgeuntilhewassatisfied

withherbegging.

“Please,fuckme,”

shesaidquietly,almost

mumbling.

Julianplungeda

thickfingerintoheraching

pussywhilehesuckedhard

onhernipple.Coraarched

herbackandcriedoutatthe

suddeninvasion.Herbody

seemedtoexplodewith

pleasure.Butjustasquickly

Julianpulledhishandaway,

leavingCorafurtheronthe

edgebutnoclosertoher

orgasm.

“Whydon’tyoutry

again?”hesaid.“Begclearly

andloudlyandmaybethen

youcancomeforme.”

“Pleasefuckme!

Fuckmehard,Julian!Iwant

tofeelyouinsideme!

Please!”Coracriedoutwith

abandon.Herbodyseemedto

possessamindofitsownand

shecouldhardlycontain

herself.Beingpinnedunder

Julianwithherhandsso

easilyrestrainedbyhimonly

madeherpussydripandher

heartrace.

“Sinceyouaskedso

nicely,”Julianmurmured.

Withhisfreehand,heripped

Cora’slacepantiesandusing

hisknees,pushedherlegs

furtheropen.

Capturingherlips,

Julianplungedhisentire

lengthdeepintoCora’s

waitingpussy.Cora’scries

meltedagainstJulian’slipsas

shearchedintohim,willing

herbodytomeltintohis.

Ecstasysparked

acrossherentirebody.

Nervesshotwavesof

pleasuredownherspine

makingevenherfingertips

andhertoestinglewiththe

headyglowofherorgasm.

Shehadcomeso

hardfromjustonethrust.

Corafeltdepletedand

drained.Herbodyhadbeen

soonedgeandsoneedyfor

himthatshefeltcompletely

usedbyherorgasm.

Butshecouldstill

feelhishardnessburied

withinher,stretchingher.

Keepingherarmspinned,

Julianbeganmovinghiships,

pullingouthiscockbefore

plungingitdeepwithinher

again.

Coratriedtoshake

herheadagainstthepillows.

Shecouldn’ttakeanother

orgasm.Shewouldsurely

die.ButJulianjustbitthe

sideofherneck,gruntingas

hethrustintoher,harderand

deeper.

Unbelievably,she

couldfeelthemounting

wavesofarousalbuildwithin

her.Shecouldn’tbelieveit

wouldbephysicallypossible

forhertocomeagainandyet

herbodywasansweringeach

ofJulian’sthrustwithaloud

wringingwaveofpleasure.

Coramoaned.“God,

yes!Please!Harder!”she

moaned.Julianansweredher

pleasbythrustinghimself

deeperintoher,hiscock

brushingagainstherwomb.

Togetherthey

moanedandgruntedasthey

felttheirbodiescoilingfor

theinevitableexplosion.As

Juliangaveanotherhard

thrust,heroaredhisfinish

justasCorascreamedwith

ecstasy.

Withtheirforeheads

touching,togetherthey

pantedandtriedtocalmtheir

racinghearts.Stillintimately

joined,Julianrolledontothe

bed,pullingCorawithhim.

Kissingthebackofherneck,

theybothfellintoadeepand

peacefulsleep.

Itwasthefirsttime

inyearsJulianhadsleptso

deeply.

Thirteen

Julianawokefeeling

incrediblyrefreshed.He

admiredthelightthatshined

throughhiscurtains,feeling

asifhehadneverreallyseen

sunlightinyears.Looking

behindhim,Corastillslept

comfortablyonthelargebed.

Julianscrubbedhis

facewithhishands.Who

would’vethoughtthatwhen

hehadinterviewedthatlittle

pixieafewweeksagothathe

wouldbeholdinghersoftand

nakedbodyagainsthisashe

slept?Hegrinned.Allhe

coulddowasbethankfulthat

shehadwalkedinthrough

thosedoorsatall.

Risingup,heheaded

towardsthebathroomnaked.

Hewantedtogetcleanedup

andhavebreakfastordered

beforeCorawokeup.Ashe

showered,hecouldn’tstop

grinninglikeafool.There

wasalightnessinhisheart

thatmadehimfeelpounds

lighterandyearsyounger.

Wrappingarobe

aroundhim,Julianassessed

theroomservicemenu.Ashe

debateduponwhichitemsto

order,henoticedhis

cellphoneblinking.Avoice

message.Withthetime

difference,Trishahadbeen

leavingherofficeupdates

throughvoicemail.

Butwhenheswiped

hisphoneon,hesawthatthe

callhadcomefromPaulson.

Forthefirsttimeeverin

regardstonewsaboutKaren,

Julianhesitated.Letting

himselffallbackintothe

darknessthatwashispast

broughtJuliandownintoa

lowplacethatwashardto

shake.Forthefirsttimeina

longtime,hewasactually

happy.Hedidn’tknowifhe

wantedtolosethatfeeling

justyet.

Butjustasquickly,a

lashofguiltwhippedacross

hisheart.Hehadpromisedto

bethereforher.Always.

He’dbrokenthatpromisefor

fifteenyearsnow.Theleast

hecoulddowaslistento

Paulson’supdate.Heclicked

onthevoicemessageicon

andlistened.

“Chief.Igother.I

gother,”Paulson’sgruff

voicerasped.

Julian’sheart

thumpedhardagainsthis

chestashelistenedtothe

excitedvoiceofhisdetective.

“Goddamndidtheymakeit

hard!There’sareasonwhy

youhaven’tbeenabletofind

herforalltheseyears.Gloria

Judsontookherdaughterand

disappeareddownsouth.And

bysouth,Imeantobumfuck

Mexico.Shewassofardown,

shewasdamnneartouching

Guatemala.Shewentdeepto

hidefromthetroubleshegot

intostateside.Andthat’swhy

noonecouldfindher.

FuckingMexicansdon’teven

livethatfarsouth!But

anyway,I’vegotatraceon

her.Well.Notreallyherbut

thegirl.Karen

Judson/Denton.Exceptshe

doesn’tgobythatname

anymore.Sincecomingto

Mexico,sheandhermother

havebeengoingbyRámon.

Karenhasbeengoingunder

CoraRámon.

“And,”Paulson

sighedheavily,“I’msorryto

breakthistoyou,boss,but

she’sawantedwomanin

Mexico.Formurder.”

Julianloweredthe

phone.Slowlyheturned

around.Thereinhisbed,

CoraRámonsleptpeacefully.

TheBillionaire’sStep

PartTwo

One

Julianfeltadistinct

ringinginhisearsasheheld

hiscellphonelooselyinhis

hand.

“Chief.Igother.Igot

her.”

Paulson’snormally

gravellyvoicehadhadaclear

noteofexcitementatthe

breakinthecase.Julian’s

pulsehadspedupin

anticipationuponhearingthe

grizzledoldPI’sexcitement.

Years.Hehadbeen

waitingyearstohearthose

words.

Cora.Karen.Cora.

Karen.

“I’msorrytobreak

thistoyou,boss,butshe’sa

wantedwomaninMexico.

Formurder.”

Julianfeltashiver

passdownhisspineashe

lookedacrosstheroomatthe

largekingsizedbed.Amid

thetumbleofthickwhite

covers,hecouldseethat

unrulyheadofmahogany

hair.CoraRámonslept

peacefullyandquietlywhile

Julian’sworldcametumbling

down.

Astheinitialshock

woreoff,hisfirstinstinctwas

tograbherandhugher.He

wantedtocry,toscream,to

jumpinallhisconfusion.He

wantedtotellherwhohe

was.Hewantedtolether

knowthatthescrawny

sixteen-year-oldJulian

Dentonhadneverforgotten

herandwaswillingtolisten

everythingshehadtosay

aboutherpast.

HewassureCora

couldexplaineverything.He

imaginedhershockedface

uponhearinghewasactually

herlongloststepbrotherfrom

yearsbefore.Butthenhe

picturedhercryinginjoyand

reliefbecausesomeonewas

nowtheretotakecareofher,

toprotecther.

Juliantookasilent

steptowardshersleeping

bodybutinstantlyfrozewhen

Coramumbledandturnedin

bed,readjustinghersleeping

positionontoherback.

Helookedather

delicatejawline.Afewblunt

strandsofhairlaidgently

acrosshersmoothcheek.

Cora’sfairskinheldthe

baresthintofatan.Shewas

fairnowbutitwasclearshe

hadnotalwaysbeen.And

althoughCorawasclearlynot

malnourished,shehada

slighthungertoherthinness.

Uponmeetingher,

Julianhadnoticedhowher

slenderbodyseemedtautand

muscled.Itwasasifthebody

hadinureditselftohungeror

starvation,honingitselftoa

lithesurvivingmachine.Cora

wasabletoeatregularlynow

butJulianhadastrong

suspicionthatwasnothow

shehadgrownup.

KarenDentonhad

beenasmall,fairlittlechild

withsoftcheeksandwide

eyes.CoraRámonwasathin

butstrong,capablewoman,

witheyesthatmissed

nothing.True,apersoncould

changequiteabitfromtento

twenty-fiveandyetseeing

Cora,Julianwouldnever

haveguessedthisbraveand

daringwomanwashislost

andtorturedKaren.

Itwasclearlifehad

notbeeneasyforhersince

herdisappearance.Andshe

clearlyhadwantedtostay

missing.Shehadgone

throughgreatlengthsto

changehernameandhad

apparentlywantedtokeepit

changed.Sheclearlyhadnot

harboredanysecrethopesof

somedaybeingfoundbyhim

orhisfather.Asfaras

Paulsonknows,shealsohad

notlookedforJuliansince

returningtotheStates.

Perhapsshewouldn’t

wanttoknowthetruth.Julian

felthisheartclenchatthe

ideaofkeepingCoraatarm’s

length.Becauseisn’tthat

whathewouldbedoingby

holdingapieceofhimself

back?ButJuliandidn’twant

torattleher.Andhesureas

fuckdidn’twanttoscareher

away.Notafterhehadjust

foundher.

Julianranathumb

downhischin,thinkingfast.

No.Hewouldstay

quietfornow.Hewantedto

speakwithPaulsonfirst.He

wantedtomakesurehewas

correctaboutthemurder

charge.Julianwasabsolutely

positiveKarenwouldnever

beabletocommitmurder.

ButCoraRámon?

Hewasn’tsure.

Two

“They’rereadyfor

ustoboard,Mr.Benedict,”

Corasaidquietly.

Juliannoddedand

followedheroutofthe

hangarandtowardshis

privatejet.Corahadfeltthat

itwouldbemoreappropriate

tocallJulian“Mr.Benedict”

inpublicsoasnottocause

anyraisedeyebrows.

Thegesturewasa

goodonebutshesoon

realizedhowfutileitwasas

theytooktheirseatsonthe

plane.Sittingonthegleaming

walnutsidetablewerefresh

copiesoftoday’spapers.

Emblazonedonthefrontpage

ofeverypaperwerethe

picturesofJulianandher,

standingcloseandintimately

together.Coracouldn’tread

Frenchbutshehadadamn

goodideawhattheheadlines

said.‘Mysterywoman’could

onlybespelledsomany

ways,regardlessoflanguage.

Wasthatwhatwas

botheringJulian?Since

wakingupfromthemost

incredibleandpassionate

nightoflovemaking,Cora

hadfeltthesuddenandquite

surprisingshiftinJulian’s

attitudetowardsher.He

wasn’tnecessarilycoldbuthe

wasaloofandmorethana

littleremoved.Hereminded

herofthemanshehadmet

whenshefirstinterviewedat

JBEnterprises—askeptical

andcalculatingCEOwho

wasn’tquitesurehebelieved

whathesaw.

Corawatched

silentlyasthecaptainofthe

planecameoutofthecockpit

toshakehandswithJulian,

confirmingtheflightplan.

Theywereenroutebackto

NewYork.Allthebusiness

inEuropehadbeenhandled

successfullyanditwastime

toheadbackhome.Cora

watchedasJuliannoddedto

whateverthecaptainwas

saying.Sheadmiredhis

strong,definedjawlinewhich

waslightlystubbled.Even

relaxed,themanhadanairof

strengthandcontrolwhich

madeCora’spulsequicken.

Whathadchanged

betweenthem?

Althoughitmadeher

stomachturnintoanicyknot

tothinkit,perhapshe

regrettedwhathappenedlast

night?Perhapshewas

realizingnowthatallhehad

wantedwasaonenightstand

anditjustsohappenedhis

assistantwasthenearest

availablepairoflegs.

Butthenshe

rememberedhissincerityat

theMuseed’Orsay.She

rememberedhiskindnessand

hisintelligenceastheyhad

strolledthehallsofthe

museum.Couldsuchaman

alsobesocallousastotossa

loverafteronenight?

He’stheModel

Millionaire,dummy,Cora

realizedwithaninternal

groan.

Howmanycountless

newspapersandmagazines

hadsheseenwithJulian’s

armaroundabeautiful

namelesswoman?Justlike

thepapersthatheldCora’s

picturesfromlastnight.And

howmanytimesdidCorasee

Julianwiththosesame

womenagain?

Zero.

Astheplanerevved

upitsenginesandbeganits

takeoffprocedure,Corafelt

theslowtrickleoficydoubt

fillherveins.Ifallhewanted

wassex,surelyshewasadult

enoughtounderstandthat.

Coraunderstood,probably

morethanJulian,thebaser

natureofpeople—

particularlymen.

Butitwasn’tfora

lackofunderstandingthat

Corafeltherheartache.It

wasbecauseshehadalso

thoughtlastnightasmore

thanjustsex.Shehadfelta

warmthandakindoftruthin

Julian’sarmsthatrangvery

deeplyinherheart.Shewas

surethatithadbeenmutual.

Thefeelinghadbeentooreal,

toopotentforbothtonot

havefeltittogether.

Andyet….

Withtheplanesafely

intheairnow,Cora

unbuckledherseatbeltand

slumpedbackinherleather-

cushionedseat.Allmorning,

Julianhadbarelysaidmore

thanadozenwordstoher.

Shedoubtedhe’dsay

anythingduringthefli—

“Yousaidthatyou

grewupinMexico,”Julian’s

voicesuddenlycutthrough

Cora’sgloomyfog.

Snappingherhead

around,Corastaredin

surpriseatJulian.

Althoughhelooked

asifhewaslounginginhis

seat,hislonglegscrossed

casuallyattheanklesinfront

ofhim,therewasatenseness

inhisshouldersthatwasquite

apparenttoCora.Hewas

lookingdirectlyather,almost

studyingher.

Feelingalittlebit

confusedandnervous,Cora

nodded.“Yes,southern

Mexico.”

Julian’seyesdidn’t

waver.“Andyousaidyou

cametotheStatesafewyears

ago.ToArizonafirst.”

Itwasslowbutnow

thewarynervesofherspine

begantoprickupin

awareness.Coraknewshe

hadtobecareful.Whenever

itcametoherpast,she

alwayshadtobecareful.

Luckily,shehadneverhad

muchproblemwithnosy

employersorlandlords.She

hopedherluckwould

continuehere.

“Yes,”shesaidina

measuredtone.“Icameto

Arizonaandwastherefor

twoyearsbeforemovingto

NewYork.”

Julianinterlacedhis

fingersandlaidhishandson

hisbellyandleanedhishead

backagainsthisseat,

perfectlyemittingthelookof

amanhavingacasual

conversation.ButCora

wasn’tfooled.Shesawthe

sharpnessinhiseyes.

“Iwouldimagineit

quitedifficulttomakeitfrom

MexicototheStatesonyour

own.Didyourfamilyhelp

you?Yourfather?Your

mother?”

Corashookherhead.

“Isavedupmoneyand

workedveryhardtomakeit

toArizona.Comingtothe

Stateswassomethingthat

onlyseemedtoappealtome.

Nooneelseinmyfamily

caredtocome.”

“AndItakeitfrom

yousaidbeforethatyoudon’t

keepinregularcontactwith

yourfamily,”hesaid.

“Notparticularly,no.

We’realladultswithourown

livesnow,”Corasaid,trying

hardtosoundnatural.“Ithink

it’snormalfordistanceand

timetomakecommunication

alittlelessfrequent.”

Feelingherpalms

itchandwantingthe

conversationtoend,Cora

usedtheonlydefenseshe

knew—askinghimabouthis

family.

“Whataboutyou,

sir?Areyouclosewithyour

father?Yourmother?”she

asked,feigninginnocent

curiosity.

Butinsteadofan

abruptcoldshutdown,Julian

surprisedherbyslowly

shakinghishead.“Mymother

passedwhenIwasvery

young.Idon’thavetoomany

memoriesofher.Andmy

fatherdiedwhenIwasabout

twenty.”

Surprised,Corahad

noideahowtorespond.

Takingadvantageof

hersilence,Julianpressedon,

“Myfatherwasawell-known

andrespectedengineerfor

manyyears.”Hegavehera

meaningfullookof

expectation.

ButCoraonly

noddedblankly.“I’msorry

foryourloss,”shesaid

quietlybeforeturning

towardsthewindow.

Juliansighed.As

soonastheplanelanded,he

wouldbecallingPaulson.

Three

Julian’sdriver

weavedthecarinandout

throughthebusyNewYork

traffic.Heknewheshould

stopbytheofficefirstand

meetwithTrishatotouch

basesonsomeofthedeals

thathadbeenmadeinEurope

buthewastooantsytosit

throughanykindofmeeting

rightnow.

DialingPaulson’s

number,Julianthoughtback

totheplaneride.Heprobably

shouldn’thaveprobedherso

muchbeforehecould

confirmPaulson’s

informationbuthecouldn’t

helphimself.Hehadspent

theentireplaneridelooking

atCorawithneweyes.

Knowingthatshecould

possiblybehisKaren,Julian

couldn’thelpbutanalyzeher

featureanewagain,looking

foroldsimilarities.

Hewasn’tsurprised

shedidn’trecognizehis

commentabouthisfather

beinganengineer.Anybody

couldbeanengineerand

besides,hehighlydoubteda

tenyearoldwouldremember

herstepfather’scareer.

Theyhadbeena

family(ifthat’swhatone

couldcallit)forsuchashort

time.Lessthanayear.But

Julianhadneverforgottenthe

stirringprotectivenessthat

hadbloomedwithinhimthe

momenthehadlaideyeson

Karen.IfCorareallywasthat

hurtandlostlittlegirlfrom

fifteenyearsago,hewould

doeverythinginhispowerto

makeupforeverypain,every

scarshehadendured.

“Chief?”thegravelly

voiceanswered.

“Paulson,whereare

younow?”

“MexicoCity.I’ve

beentryingtofollowback

Cora’strail.”

“Alright,good.But

inanhour,Iwantyouto

emailmeeverythingyou’ve

foundonCora.Include

everything.Andkeepyour

phonehandy.I’llbecalling

againtogetafullreport.”

“Yougotit,chief.”

Julianlookedoutthe

window,blindlystaringatthe

passingcarsandpeople.He

wassoclose.

Soclose.

Corathrewher

suitcaseinthecornerofher

smallapartmentasshe

ploppedfacefirstintoher

sofa.Theflying,the

meetings,thephonecalls,and

mostofalltheemotionsof

thelastfewdayshadbeen

morethandraining.Shecould

feeleverymusclereadyto

turnintojelloasshelaidon

thecouch.

Whateverhad

changedwithinJulian,it

certainlywasn’twhatCora

expected.Ifallhehadwanted

wasaonenightstandanda

morningofnocomplications,

whywouldhebotherto

questionheraboutherfamily

orherbackground?Itwas

unusualindeed.

Butatthemoment,

Corawastooexhaustedto

figureouthermysterious

employer.Asshedebated

whethershehadtheenergyto

changeherclothesbefore

passingoutonherbed,she

heardherphonering.Butit

wasn’tthenormalringing

chimesofherwork

smartphone.

Itwastheshort

buzzybeepsofherother

phone.

Cora’sentirebody

tensedwithinhalfasecondof

hearingthering.Aftera

moment’shesitation,she

quicklyroseandopenedthe

bottomdrawerofherbureau.

Reachingintotheback

behindastackofthick

sweaters,shepulledouta

cheap,beatupoldphone.It

buzzedvigorouslyinher

hand.

Therewasonlyone

personwhoknewthis

number.Therewasonlyone

personshehadkeptthis

numberfor.

Slowlybreathing

out,Coraflippedopenthe

phoneandpressed‘answer.’

“Cora?”afrantic

voicecalledout.

Squeezinghereyes

shut,wishingshehadnever

heardthephone,Coranodded

andanswered,“Yes,mom.

It’sme.”

Gloriahuffeda

breath.“I’vebeencallingyou

fordays!Whyhaven’tyou

answered?”

Coralookeddown

andnoticedherhandsballed

intofists.Asshecarefully

triedtorelaxherhands,she

replied,“I’vebeenoutof

townforwork.”

“I’myourmother,

Cora.Shouldn’tyouhave

takenyourphonewithyouso

youcananswermycalls?Or

attheveryleast,tellme

whereyouareorwhereyou

aregoingsoI’dknow?”

Itwasaguilttrap

andCorawasnotfallingfor

it.AlthoughGloriaknewher

daughterwasintheStates,

shewasn’tsurewhichstate.

AndCoralikedtokeepitlike

that.

“Issomething

wrong,mom?”Coraasked,

tryingtogettothepointof

thecallsoshecouldhangup

sooner.“Doyouneed

something?”

“Youneedtosend

memoney.Twothousand

wouldbegood.Fivethousand

wouldbebetter,”Gloriasaid

immediately.

“Fivethousand?

Whysomuchthistime?”

Cora’sneckprickledin

preparationfortheworst.

“CarlosthinksIstole

thatlastpackage.He’s

demandingIpayforit.He

saysIcanpaythewholesale

price.Itshouldbeatabout

threegrandbutIthinkIcan

talkhimintotakingtwo.But

likeIsaid,ifyousentfive,

I’dfeelsafer.Justincase.”

“Didyoustealthe

package?”Corawasn’tsure

she’dbelieveanyanswerher

mothergaveher.

“Cora!Doyouthink

I’mstupid?Ofcoursenot!I

gotrobbed!Butthat’sno

goodtoCarlos.Youknow

howheis,”Gloriasniffed.

OhCoracertainly

knewhowhewas.

“Okay.That’salot

ofmoney.LetmeseewhatI

candoandI’lltrytogetitto

yousoon.”

“Remember,”Gloria

saidearnestly,“twoisgood.

Fivewouldbebetter.”

AsCorasnappedthe

phoneshut,shecouldfeelall

herbodyheatdraindownher

spine.Shivering,shehuddled

intoacornerofthecouch.

Shepulledherkneesupand

huddledintoaprotectiveball.

EverytimeGloria

called,theawfulmemories

weretriggeredandtherewas

nothingCoracoulddoto

fightthemoff.Allshecould

dowasholdontosomething

andletthemcome.

Four

Ifalwaysgettinginto

thewrongsituationwerea

competition,Gloriawould

leadthepackasworld

champion.Motivatedalways

byequalpartslaziness,greed,

narcissism,andselfishness,

Gloriahadanaturalknackfor

findingherselfinoften

dangerousandsometimes

illegalsituations.

Itwasaroundthe

timewhenCorawasabout

fifteenwhenGloriamet

CarlosVilas.Carloswasa

middle-agedmanwithslick

greasyblackhair,athick

equallygreasymustache,and

athrivingdrugcartel

business.

Gloriahad

immediatelybeenattractedto

thekindofpowerCarlos

wieldedoverhissmall

empire.Bypositioning

himselfinthesoutherntipof

Mexico,hewasattheperfect

junctiontomeetsmugglers

fromCentralandSouth

America.Thismeanthuge

profitsforCarlos.Andhuge

profitsweretranslatedintoa

sprawlingmansionand

severalluxurycars.Heeven

hadtheseveralacres

surroundinghismansion

turnedintoasortof

compoundforhimandhis

cartel.

Afteryearsof

literallyeatinggarbageand

sleepingonthestreets,Gloria

couldn’thavebeenmore

takenwithCarlos.And

Carloslovedtheideaof

havingagringawomanby

hisside.Itwasn’tlongbefore

Gloriawassoonlivingatthe

mansionandittookevenless

timebeforeshewasmaking

shortdrugrunsforCarlos.

Asawhitewoman,

she’dgetstoppedlessand

wouldbelesssuspicious,

Carlosexplained.Andit

wasn’tasifshewas

smugglingthedrugsto

America.Shewasjust

movingsmallpackagesfrom

onedealertoanotherwithin

Mexico.

Cora,whohadfelt

toouncomfortablewiththe

leeringgazesofCarlosand

hismen,haddecidedtostay

inasmallshackafewmiles

downfromGloriaandher

mansion.

Gloriawouldstopby

oftenwithsomemoneyand

foodandseveraldozen

storiesofhowwonderfullife

wasforher.Coraknew

Glorialikedhavingthe

mansionandCarlos’s

attentionalltoherself.She

didn’twanttosharethe

luxuriesofadrugqueenlife

withherdaughterand

appreciatedCorakeepinga

safedistanceaway.Shehad

alsoseenhowCarloshad

lookedatCoraandwantedto

makesureherpositionashis

mainwomanwassecure.

Secretly,Corawassurethat

Gloriaknewsomewheredeep

insidethatCarlosdidnotcare

forherthewayGloriacared

forhim.Andthatmadethe

olderwomanconstantlyon

edge.

Andforayearor

two,lifehadremained

precariouslycalm.Corahad

evenfoundworkasawaitress

foratinylittlerestaurantat

theedgeoftown.Shewas

slowlysavingupmoneyfor

whatshehopedwouldbeher

tickettosomewherebigger,

perhapsMexicoCity.And

fromthere,America?She

couldonlydaretodream.

Butlateonenight,as

shewasleavingthe

restaurant,amanfollowed

herdownhernormalalley

home.Corahadfelthis

presencebuthadmaintained

aspeedypaceinhopesof

outracinghim.

Assheturneda

corner,shethoughtshehad

losttheman.Breathingasigh

ofrelief,shecontinuedonher

way.Butonlytwostepslater,

shefeltasweatypalmfall

overhermouthasaslurring

voicemurmuredinherear,

“Chicaaa….”

Corafoughtwithall

herstrength.Althoughthe

manwasn’tparticularlytall,

hewasbig.Hehadtoeasily

weighovertwohundredand

fiftypounds.Andhewas

drunk,makinghis

movementssloppyand

heavy.

Hegrabbedather

shortsandrippedthezipper

open.Hishandsgropedher

breasts,feelingthemwith

suchperverseintimacythat

tearsimmediatelysprangto

Cora’seyes.

Althoughshecould

feelherselflosingthebattle,

Coraneverscreamed.Inthis

kindofneighborhood,

screaminghadabetterchance

ofbringingonmoretrouble

thanhelp.

Butwhentheman’s

thickfingersslippedbetween

herlegs,plungingintoher

dry,unwillingpussy,Cora

couldn’thelpbutshriek.

Feelingagainstthealleywall

behindher,shegrabbed

whateverwasathand.A

sizeablechunkofloosewood

wasonlyafootawayfrom

her.Twistingandsquirming

towardsit,shegrabbeditand

thumpedthemanashardas

shecouldonthebackofhis

neck.

Atfirst,theman

seemedcompletelyunfazed.

Corahithimagain,using

everyounceofstrengthshe

had.Finallytheman’s

fumblinghandspausedashe

frozebeforeslumping

forwardintoalargedoughy

heap.

Anditwasprecisely

atthatmoment,whenshewas

carryingherbloodybattering

stick,thatthepolicearrived.

Themanwas

immediatelyidentifiedasan

off-dutypoliceofficer.

Completelyignoringher

bruisesandhercriesof

attemptedrape,thepolice

promptlyarrestedherand

threwherinprisonwhereshe

waschargedwithmurder.

Shesatinjailfor

threedaysbeforeGloria

finallycametoseeher.“I

toldCarlos.He’llfixit.He

promisedhe’dfixit,”shehad

saidthroughthebars.Cora

ferventlyhopedhecouldbut

wasn’tsurehow.Thepolice

werejustascrookedand

corruptasthedruglords.It

wouldtakequitealotofwork

tohavethemwaiveamurder

charge.

Corahadbeenalittle

surprisedathowurgently

GloriahadworkedonCarlos

tohelpherdaughter.Butthen

again,onethingGloriahated

aboveallelsewasbeing

alone.AndCorasuspected

thatincasesomethingbad

happenedwithCarlos,Gloria

sawherasinsuranceagainst

everbeingalone.

Ithadtakennearly

twoweeksbutfinallythe

policechiefandCarloshad

madeadeal.Corawasn’tsure

howmuchmoneyorgoods

wereexchangedbutshewas

sureitcouldn’thavecome

cheap.

Afterbeingreleased,

shesawCarlosandGloria

waitingforherinashiny

RollsRoyce.

“Thisismygift,

preciosa,”Carloshadsaidto

her,regardingthecharge

waive.Hehelduponestubby

finger,studdedwiththick

goldrings.“Butremember

whogaveittoyou.”Running

ahandacrosshismustache,

headded,“Andwhocantake

itback.”

Corawasn’tsure

whatthatmeantbutshecould

tellitwasathreat.She

wonderedwhatshe’dhaveto

dotopaythemanbackfor

his“gift.”Butwithinadayor

two,sherealizedshemight

noteverhavetoworryabout

itagain.

Itwasonlytwodays

laterwhenCorawokeupto

hermother’snoteandthefew

pesosshehadlefther,telling

herdaughterofherleaving.

Carloshadpackedup

everythingwithinhis

compoundandhadsuddenly

moved.Gloriahadfollowed

himandhadn’taskedCorato

comealong.

Nowinthesame

townshehadjustbeen

chargedwithmurderbut

withouttheprotectionof

Carlos,Coraknewitwas

timeforhertoleavewhether

shewasreadyornot.

Andthanksto

variousshadyconnections

shehadmetthroughCarlos

andGloria,shehadmanaged

tosnagarideacrossthe

border,clutchingahandfulof

forgeddocuments,readyto

startanew.

Five

“….butthisVilas

characterdidn’tmovefar.

Aboutfiftymileseast.Ona

map,itlookslikeit’dbea

betterspotforhissmuggling

butinactuality,hisbusiness

hasbeenhurtingforthelast

twoyears.Andhe’sgotten

quiterecklessandvindictive

becauseofit,”Paulsonsaid.

Holdingthephone

againsthisearwithhis

shoulder,Julianscrolled

throughtheinformation

Paulsonhademailedhim—

copiesofpolicereports,

interviewtranscripts,and

evenaWantedad.

“Whatdoesthat

mean—vindictive?”Julian

asked,ashequicklyskimmed

overthepolicereportthe

nightCorawasarrestedand

chargedwithmurder.His

Spanishwasn’tperfectbutit

wasenoughtobeableto

knowthatthereportnoted

bruisesandbloodonthe

murdererbutnothingabouta

rapeorassault.Thatwasn’t

toosurprising,giventhetown

Corahadbeenin.

“ItmeansthatVilas

hasbeenlashingoutonold

partnersforminorinfractions.

He’sbeenerraticon

deliveriesandstrangely

paranoidandsuspiciouswith

someofhismen.Andhe’s

beenveryparanoidwith

Gloria.”

AlthoughJuliannow

wascompletelysurethat

CoraRámonwasactually

KarenDenton,itstillhithim

likeabricktohearGloria’s

namementionedsocasually.

Thatwomanhadbrought

mayhemandchaosinto

countlesslivesbutthemost

damagesheunleashedwason

herowndaughter.

“Doeshehave

reasontobeparanoidwith

Gloria?”Hewouldn’tputit

pastGloriatosomehowcross

anarmedandcorruptdrug

lord.Thewomanmust’ve

beenbornwithoutanysense

ofself-preservation.

“Well,”Paulsonsaid

broadly,soundinglikehewas

stretchinginhisseat.The

manhadbeenhardatwork

tryingtopiecetogether

Cora’slife.“NowIcan’tsay

forsure.FromwhatI’vebeen

abletotell,Gloria’sbeen

doingsomesmalldeliveries

forVilasforalmostgoingon

tenyearsnow.Allthe

deliverieshavealwaysbeen

successful.Butinthelast

yearorso,she’sfailedto

makethreedeliveries.She

could’vebeenrobbedor

searchedbutthreetimesis

hardtobrushoffasa

coincidence.”Juliancould

heartheclickofalighteras

Paulsonlitacigarette.“IfI

wereVilas,I’dbesuspicious

too.”

Julianreadpageafter

page,gobblingup

informationofwhatCora’s

lifehadbeenlifeforthepast

decadeandahalf.Andwith

everyrevelation,hisheart

brokealittlemoreforher.

Lifehadn’tjustbeenhardfor

her.Ithadbeengoddamn

impossible.Themerefact

thatCorahadgrownintosuch

adeterminedandwell-

adjustedwomanmade

Julian’sheartclenchin

heartbreakingadmiration.

“Sodoesthishave

anyrepercussionsforCora?”

FuckGloriaforallhecared.

Buthewantedtomakesure

nothingcamebacktohaunt

Cora.Hewouldmakesure

shewouldbeabletofinally

breatheabreathfreeoffear

andobligation.

“Justone

repercussion.Onebigone.”

Paulsonsighedheavily.“It

lookslikeVilashadmade

somekindofdealwiththe

arrestingpolicedepartmentto

freeCora.Hewouldprovide

themwithasmallmeasureof

drugsforthemtosell.They

wouldobviouslystillbe

givingVilasacutbutin

returnVilaswouldsellthe

producttothematamuch

cheaperrate.Well,twoweeks

agoherescindedthedeal.”

“Herescindedit?

Afternearlysixyears?”

Julianasked,surprised.

“Yep.Inretaliation,

thepolicedepartment

draggedupCora’sold

chargesandputoutawarrant

forherarrest.Theythought

thatwouldbringVilasdown

tohiskneesbutlittledidthey

knowthat’sexactlywhathe

wanted.Vilashaseven

helpedbroadcastthewarrant

furtherupMexico.”

“Whythefuckishe

doingthis?”Julian

demanded,feelinghisfingers

curlingintoenragedfists.

“Honestly,chief,

whothefuckknows?This

manhasseriouslygonea

littlebonkersandhe’ssoon

onthebrinkoflosingwhat

littleofanempirehe’s

made.”Paulsontookadeep

dragonhiscigarette.Julian

couldalmostimaginethe

grizzledoldPIwitharagged

cigarettehangingoutfrom

thecornerofhismouth.“But

onethingisclear,Cora

Rámonisawantedwomanin

Mexico.Andsoonasshe

stepsfootthere,CarlosVilas

willfindher.”

Six

“Cora,Ineedmore.I

needthreegrandmore,”

Gloriasaidurgently.

Althoughsheknew

hermomcouldn’tseeit,Cora

threwherhandsupintothe

air.“Mom,Ialreadysentyou

threethousanddollars.Ihad

totakeeverythinginthebank

plusmaxoutacreditcardto

getthatmoney.There’sno

otherplaceIcanpossiblygo

nowtogetanymore.”

Shecouldhear

Gloria’sagitatedbreathingon

theotherendofthephone.

Thiswasmorethanjusta

missingdelivery.Something

moreseriouswashappening.

“Mom,what’swrong?”

Gloriahesitated

beforesighingand

whispering,“Something’s

wrongwithCarlos.”Another

agitatedbreath.“Something’s

beenwrongwithhimfor

awhilenow.”

“Whatdoyou

mean?”

“I—Ijustneedsome

moremoney,Cora,”Gloria

said,agenuinenoteof

desperationenteringher

voice.

“Butmom,”Cora

said,tryingtouncoverwhat

wasunnervinghermotherso,

“howdoyouknowanother

threethousandwillmakeit

rightwithCarlos?Whatifhe

keepsaskingformore?

There’sonlysomuchmoney

Icanscroungetogether.What

then?”

Gloriagaveasmall

frustratedcry.Coracouldtell

shewastryingtokeepher

voicedown.WhereverGloria

was,shedidn’twanttobe

overheard.Thatalone

alarmedCora.

Afteralongpause,

Gloriawhispered,“Ineedto

getoutofhere,Cora.Ineed

togetaway.ButIdon’tknow

how.Ican’tdoitalone.”

Corawasonly

human.Shecouldn’thelpbut

feeltheinitialpangof

bitternessatGloria’swords.

WhohadhelpedCorawhen

shehadtriedtocrossthe

border?Whohadprotected

herorwatchedoverheras

shetriedtodangerouslyforge

anewlifeforherself?

ButCoraquickly

shookthethoughtoutofher

mind.Nomatterwhather

feelings,Corahadneverbeen

abletoletgoofthedebtshe

feltsheowedhermother

whenGloriahadhelpedfree

herfromprison.Corahad

verynarrowlyescapedlifein

aMexicanprisonwhere

womeninmateswere

routinelyrapedandabused.

Shejustcouldn’tignoresuch

adebtevenagainstallthe

terriblethingshermotherhad

done.

AndifnowGloria

wasthinkingaboutleaving

Carlos,thatmeantshewas

frightenedofsomething.

Carlosofferedluxury,

comfort,andmostofall

protection.Toleaveallthat

meantGloriawouldrather

takeherchancesonthe

dangerousandcutthroat

streetsagain.Somethingwas

seriouslywrong.

“Whatdoyoumean

by‘leave,’mom?”Cora

askedcautiously.Fromwhat

Corarememberedoftheman,

Carloswasaverypossessive

person.Hewouldnotletany

thing—personornot—go

withoutafight.“Wheredo

youwanttogo?”

“Tothenorth.Tothe

States.Anyfuckingplacebut

here,”Gloriawhispered.Now

thatshehadvoicedthese

dangerousthoughtsaloud,it

seemedliketherewasno

stoppingher.“Ijusthaveto

getawayfromhere.Carlosis

justgettingtoocrazyandifI

stay,Idon’tknowwhat’ll

happentome.”

Cora’seyeswidened

atthis.Ofcourseshehad

alwaysrealizedthatthere

wouldbesubstantialrisksin

engaginginarelationship

withadruglord,whichis

whyCorahadalwayschosen

tokeepasafedistanceaway.

Hermother,ontheother

hand,hadthrownherselfhead

overheelsintoCarlos’s

waitinglap.Butafterso

manyyearsofrelativecalm,

Corahadjustassumedthat

Gloriamust’vesecuredquite

asafepositionwithin

Carlos’sheart.

Itlookedlikeshe

waswrong.

Anditsoundedlike

Gloriawasnowafraidforher

life.Corarememberedthe

coldprisoncellandthe

tauntingguards.She

rememberedhowoneofthe

officershadgivenherassa

painfulsqueezeashetossed

herintothecellwitha

promiseofmoretocome.

CoraowedGloria.

“Mom,Icancome

down.Ican’thelpwith

moneybutIcanhelptryand

getyoutosafety,”Corasaid

slowly.Shehadn’tsetfootin

Mexicoinyearsandhadno

particulardesiretoever

again.ButifGloriawasin

trouble,shewouldgo.

“No!”Gloriasaid

suddenly.“No!Youcan’t

come!Definitelynotnow!”

Corawasbrought

short.“Definitelynotnow?

Whatdoesthatmean?”

Gloriahesitated.

“Just—Imean,youjustneed

tosendmemoremoney.That

willhelp.”

Corashookherhead.

“Mom,Ireallydon’thave

anymoremoney.Andthere

isn’tanyoneIcanborrow

moneyfrom.”Julian’sface

quicklyflashedthroughher

mind.“TheonlythingIcan

offeryouisformetocome

downthereandhelpyou.”

Therewasalong

pause.

Finally,Gloriatook

adeepbreath.“Okay,fine.

Comefindme,Cora.”

Seven

“Ithinkyou’llbe

doingjustfineonyourown

whenIleave,”Trishasaid

withonlytheslightestnoteof

prideinhernormally

reservedvoice.

Coralookedup

distractedlythengavethe

womanaquicksmile.She

appreciatedTrisha’straining

andwantedtomakesurethe

womanknewitbeforeshe

left.ButCorawasstillso

distractedfromhermother’s

phonecall.

If she left for

Mexico,shedidn’tknowhow

long shewouldbegone.She

hadonlyjustgottenthejobat

JB Enterprises. It would be

extremely unprofessional to

leave now for an unknown

amountoftime.

Besides, Cora

realized, she didn’t know if

Julian would grant her the

absence anyway. He had

maintained his aloof manner

towards her even in the

office. He still greeted her

and was quite vocal during

their professional meetings

but outside of that, he was

just always a little removed

and distant. She could feel

him watching her and

calculating something in his

head. She only wondered

whatitcouldbe.

Shehadworkedso

hardtobuildalifenotonlyin

NewYorkbut inAmerica.If

she left forMexico now, she

wasn’t sure what she would

return to. Certainly not this

job at JB Enterprises. She

waspositiveJulianwouldfire

her as soon as she asked for

anykindoftimeoff.

But therewasno

waythatCoracouldlivewith

havingGloria’s blood on her

handsandifshereallywasin

that kind of mortal danger,

Coraneededtodosomething.

AsCoracarefully

filed away some contracts

thatneededsigningbeforethe

end of the day, she began to

realize perhaps this distance

between herself and Julian

wasablessingindisguise.

With Gloria in

trouble, the last thing Cora

wanted was to drag Julian

down with her. Nobody

deservedthatkindofbaggage

and drama and Cora felt

shame at the idea of Julian

evenhavingahintofthekind

of background she came

from.Shewould’vebeentorn

andheartbrokenattheideaof

choosing between Julian and

hermother.Atleastthisway,

there was no choice. The

choicehadalreadybeenmade

forher.

AsCoracontinued

her gloomy ruminations, the

large office door opened.

Julian stepped out in an

immaculatedarkgraysuit.He

looked so good it made

Cora’s chest hurt. She

immediately stood up,

smoothingoutherskirt.

“Mr.Benedict, is

theresomethingthatI—”

“I’dlikeyoutohave

dinner with me tonight, if

you’re free,” he said swiftly,

pinning her with his steely

darkgaze.

Cora’smouthhung

open,completelyatalossfor

words. Shaking herself, she

noddedandsaid, “Ofcourse,

sir.Butdo—”

Juliannodded.“I’ll

pickyouupat seveno’clock

then,” he said before quickly

walkingtowardstheelevator.

Corasuddenlyforgot

why any distance between

them would be a good

distance. All she could see

was his broad back and her

fantasyofbeingabletopress

her face against it, hugging

him close and never letting

go.

AsJulianrodedown

theelevator,hefeltcrackling

energy run through his body

like a live wire. Tonight he

wouldconfrontCora.Tonight

hewouldrevealeverything.

In any other

circumstance, he might’ve

tried to take his time in

opening Cora up to him but

nowwith her situation being

more dire and immediate, he

wanted to make sure she

knew who she could depend

on. He wanted her to know

shehadprotection.

As the elevator

opened on the ground floor,

Julian strode out with a

determinedandsetface.

Readyornot,Karen,

you’re going to be meeting

the real Julian Benedict

tonight.

Andhe’sbeenwaiting

alongtimeforyou.

Eight

“Morewine?”

Cora’sheadsnapped

up from her decadently

plated,halfeatensalmonand

Dijonmustardsauce.

Julian lifted the

bottle of red wine a little

higher,inquestion.Coragave

a quick nod and he poured

heranotherinchofwine.

Sincepickingherup

andarrivingat therestaurant,

Julian could tell Cora was

nervous.Hewasn’tquitesure

why though. He knew she

had been confused the last

few days by his behavior

towards her. To be fair

though, he had also been

quite confused as to how to

behavearoundheraswell.

Buttheresomething

more than just confusion.He

could see from the way she

nervouslychewedherbottom

lipanddartedhereyesabout

thattherewassomethingelse

worryingher.

Hadshesomehow

come to the same conclusion

he had? Did she know why

theywerehavingdinner?

Onlyonewaytofind

out.

Julian pushed

forward his nearly empty

plate. “Do you remember

whenwewereleavingParis,I

mentioned my father?” he

started, slowly gauging her

reaction.

Cora looked

surprised by his choice of

topicbutnoddedinresponse.

Juliancontinued.

“He was quite a brilliant

engineer. Created patents for

a lot of inventions that

actually helped start JB

Enterprises.”

Cora’sbrowcreased

quizzically. “But I thought

youstartedJBEnterprises.”

Julianindulgedina

wry smile. “I did,” he said.

“ButIstartedmycompanyon

alotofpatentsmyfatherhad

created but had never

implemented.Hediedonly a

few years after his second

wifelefthim.”

“I’msorry,”Cora

murmured, a lookofgenuine

sympathy on her face. How

Julian longed topullher into

his arms and kiss her.

Regardless of howdistant he

hadbeenwithher,hehadnot

for one minute forgotten the

passion that they had shared

together in Paris. Nothing

about Cora’s past had

changed his feelings for her.

If anything, they had only

heightenedthem.

Trying to remain

focused, Julian nodded his

acknowledgment of her

condolences. “He didn’t

handleheartbreakwell.Helet

himself wallow and really

just unravel. For several

years, I was quite sure that

every time I would come

home from school, I would

find him dead from alcohol

poisoning.”

Coramadeasound

of sympathy. His heart

tightened to seehowrealher

concern for him was. After

the hardships she had

endured, she still had the

capacity to hold empathy for

others. It made it hard for

Juliantoreallyfocusonwhat

hewantedtosay.Itwasasif

the weeks of self-imposed

distancing had finally come

toahead.Allhecould think

about was holding her,

kissing her—just being with

her.

“I-Iunderstandthe

hardshipsaparentcancause,”

Cora said softly, completely

surprising Julian. Was she

about to reveal herself to

him?

“I’vehad ahard

relationship with my mother

for many years,” Cora

continued, dragging her fork

through the Dijon mustard

sauce. “Because of our

troubled relationship, there

were a lot of times where I

felt…alone.”

God, Julian just

wanted to slapGloria for the

pain shehadcausedherown

child.Hetriedtoconsciously

relaxthetensenesswithinhis

body.Showingragewouldbe

the worst thing he could do

onanightlikethis.

Coraslowlyraised

her head, her eyes

shimmering with a sheen of

tears. “That’s why I was so

happythatnightinParis,”she

said in a whisper. “For the

first time in years, I didn’t

feelalone.”

Thatwasit.Hisheart

wasbothbreakingandonfire

for her. He must hold this

beautiful, daring, broken

womanorbedamned.

Julian raised his

hand.“Check,please.”

Forthefirsttimein

his life, Julian brought a

womanbacktohishome.But

Cora barely had time to

appreciate the beautifully

decorated penthouse

apartment.Julianhadcrushed

her against him, kissing her

thoroughly, as soon as they

hadenteredthedoorway.

Withoutregardto

anythingelse,Julianliftedher

into his arms and carried her

into the large and spacious

bedroom. He lowered her

gently onto the bed,

stretchinghimselfoverher.

Corawantedtomoan

inpleasurejustfromthesheer

reliefinhavingJulian’shands

onheragain.Howgooditfelt

to have his strong body pin

herdownandholdher.

Withexpertskill,

Julianquicklystrippedhertill

she was just in her lace bra

andpanties.Pushingthecups

down,heproppedhercreamy

breasts on the wire and

lowered his head, sucking

hard on each nipple till

Cora’stoescurled.

Heplungedahand

down her panties and Cora

moaned once his fingers

touched her soaking pussy.

She couldn’t believe the

effect of Julian’s body was

just as potent as she

remembered. Her body was

aflamewithdesire.

A thick finger

stroked hard down her cleft,

making Cora arch. Julian

sucked on a nipple as he

pressed a finger against her

engorged clit. Cora was sure

shewould be drivenmad by

want.Everyplacehetouched

hermade her skin tingle and

burnuntilherentirebodyfelt

like it would melt from her

sheerarousal.

Suddenly, Julian

pulled away his hand from

her pussy and grabbed both

her wrists. Pinning her arms

up above her head with one

hand, Julian pulled her legs

into one of his, completely

trappinghertothebed.

Cora looked up,

wondering what the man

could possibly be up to. She

waspractically squirming for

more and he was just lying

next to her, pinning her

againsthim.

But the sight of

Julian’s face nearly took her

breath away. A mixture of

stern tendernessdarkenedhis

chiseled face. Brushing a

thumb against her lips, he

said, “Iwant you to listen to

somethingIwanttotellyou.”

His lips twitched a little

hollowly. “I keep trying to

tell you something but you

keepdistractingmewithyour

goddamn face. You’re a

genuineheartbreaker,Cora.”

Cora smiled but

looked up nervously. He

seemed quite serious despite

histeasingcompliment.

“Ichangedmyname

when I started JB

Enterprises,” Julian started,

brushing a hand against

Cora’scheek.“Itwasabitof

a vindictive act. I was

ashamedofmyfather.Hehad

beensoblind,sogreedy,that

he had let a lot of people

sufferforthesakeofhisown

happiness.Ididn’twanttobe

associated with such a man.

So I took my mother’s

maidenname,Benedict.”

Corastaredathim.

Shepatientlylistenedbutwas

utterly at a loss as to why

Julian was so set on talking

abouthisfather.

Juliangavehera

meaningful look that nearly

brought Cora to tears from

justlookingathim.

“ButbeforeIbecame

Julian Benedict,” he said

slowly, “I was Julian

Denton.”

Hepaused,carefully

watchingher.Corawondered

what he was expecting. She

understoodnamechanges.Of

allpeople,shemostcertainly

understood. It didn’t change

anything about how she felt

abouthim.

“IwasJulianDenton

and my father was Patrick

Denton,” Julian continued,

givingherthesameexpectant

meaningfullook.

Amemorystirredin

the furthest reaches of her

mind. Cora remembered

screaming. But there had

alwaysbeenscreaminginher

life. It was hard to separate

thevastseaofscreamingand

abusivememories.

But lookingupat

Julian, she suddenly also

remembered a roof. She

remembered sitting under a

night sky with a canopy of

tree brancheswhile a sixteen

yearoldboy tried tocomfort

her.

Sherememberedthe

boy sitting with her at night

when she was too scared or

battered to fall asleep. She

rememberedhimmakingsure

to stop by her elementary

school to give her lunch

money.Sherememberedhim

shelteringherjustasGloria’s

fist fell down, thudding him

hardontheback.

Cora’s face felt

numb and her fingers tingled

with coldness. She had tried

so hard to forget everything

fromherchildhood.Evenasa

child,shewouldroutinelytry

to forget the previous six

months or year of her life. It

was a sheer defensive

mechanism. The less she

rememberedall thehurtsand

pains of her life, the more

likely she’d find strength to

carryon.

But shesuddenly

remembered how hard she

hadcriedthatnightwhenshe

had woken up in Gloria’s

station wagon, hundreds of

miles away from the only

kind of family she had ever

known and the only boy she

hadevertrusted.

“You…you said

you’d…always be there for

me,” Cora whispered, her

voicebrokenandragged.She

had cried so hard she had

thrown up inside the car,

which had angered Gloria

intoanotherragefit.

Julian face

roughened at her words,

shadowed with harsh regret

and guilt. He pressed his

forehead against hers. “I

know I did,” he said, just as

brokenly. “I’m sorry. I’m so

sorry…Karen.”

Nine

Itwasasshehad

beenelectrocuted.Assoonas

she heard the name, Cora

wrenched herself away and

jumpedoffthebed.

Karen.

Shehadn’theardthat

name in years. Even Gloria

didn’t call her that anymore.

Standing by the bed,

breathing hard as wave after

wave of memories crashed

against her, Cora stared at

Julian who had slowly risen

fromthebed.

Howhadshenot

seenit?Sherememberedthat

long nose, those wide lips.

She remembered that

squinted expression when he

wasconcentratingorthatcold

steely gaze when he was

angry.

Ohgod.Thiswas

Julian. The man she had

grown to love and want was

the same boy who had

sheltered and protected her

those many long years ago.

Howmanymonthsasachild

had she wept over him and

criedouthisname?Andhow

many hidden drives, aliases,

and drunken beatings had it

takenbeforeCorahadburied

thememoryofhim?

“Julian,” she

whispered,wantingtosaythe

name aloud. Even with the

bed between them, Cora felt

like there was hardly any

breathing room. She had

thought it would be

complicated to get involved

withamulti-millionaireCEO.

That was a cakewalk

compared togetting involved

with her former stepbrother

turned multi-millionaire

CEO.

Coraremembered

how Gloria would scream at

hereverytimesheevendared

tomentionJulian’sname.

Gloria!

Coragasped,ahand

tohermouth.

“Whatisit?”Julian

asked concerned. “Are you

okay?” He took a step

towards her but Cora

immediatelytookastepback.

Julianpausedbut studiedher

carefully.“Karen?”

Therewasnoway

she could get involved with

Julian now.He had been the

firstpersoninherlifetoshow

her kindness and love. And

even as an adult, he had

shown her similar qualities.

Cora remembered Paris and

the Musée d’Orsay. She

couldn’t possibly repay such

a person by letting him into

her mess of a life. He

couldn’t get involved. The

Model Millionaire involved

in petty Mexican drug cartel

scandal?God,shecouldonly

imagine the press and

scandal.

“I-Ineed togo,”

Cora said, tears of bitter

regret and surprise running

down her cheeks. She turned

and headed for the bedroom

doorway. But just as she

wrenched it open, a large

hand above her shoved it

backshut.

“Karen,” Julian

started,hisbreathticklingher

neck. “Cora. Talk to me.

Please.”

Cora heard the

ragged plea in the word

‘please.’ Taking a deep

breath, she slowly turned

aroundandlookedup.

Face twistedwith

pain and hope and regret,

Julian looked at herwith the

mosthonesteyesshehadever

seen.“I’vethoughtaboutyou

for years,” he said, his voice

harsh with emotion. “I’ve

worried about you. I’ve

dreamt about you. I’ve been

looking for you for years.”

He closed his eyes, clearly

overwhelmed. “It was my

fault. I should’ve been there

for you. I…I should’ve

protectedyou.”

Openinghiseyes,a

tear rolled down his cheek.

“Canyouforgiveme,Cora?”

Hehadbeenlooking

forher?Cora felt thedamof

emotionshehadbeenholding

backbreak.Shegaspedasher

firstsobhither.Someonehad

cared about her all these

years. Someone had wanted

her.

Therewasnothinga

sixteen year old could’ve

doneforherandCoraheldno

resentment towards Julian.

She only felt gratitude at

knowing he had cared so

much about her. It somehow

madeallthoselonely,painful

years seem less empty and

awful.

Cora fell intohis

arms. “I’vemissed you too,”

she said thickly, tears

drenchinghisshirt.

Julian’s arms

immediately wrapped around

her, squeezing her and

holding her tight. They held

each other as they tried to

absorbtheyearsofseparation

theyhadendured.

Pullingherupinto

hisarms,Juliancarriedherto

his bed. This time, his entire

demeanor was completely

different. Capturing her lips,

he molded her mouth to his.

Holdinghertightly,helethis

tongue probe her, enter her,

knowher.Coracouldfeelthe

urgency within him to have

her as close to him as

possible, to melt his body

against hers and hers against

his.

AndCora’sbody

couldn’t agree more. She

archedherspine,ranhernails

down his back, clawing him

towards her. The

overwhelming warmth and

love and gratitude made her

feel as if she was drowning.

ShegrippedJuliantighter.He

was her only anchor in this

chaotic sea of emotion. He

hadalwaysbeenheranchor.

Beforeshethought

herself ready, Julian plunged

his full length into her

wetness. They groaned

togetherashiscockstretched

and filled her completely.

Holding her face within his

hands,helookeddownather

with infinite tenderness. “I

loveyou,Cora,”hesaid.

Cora’sheartnearly

stopped. He loved her. He

lovedher.Tearssprangtoher

lashes as she thought about

Mexico, Carlos, her mother,

her shadowy past. This man

knew who she was and he

lovedher.

“I—”Emotions

chokedhervoice,makingher

only able to give him a look

ofhelpless,hopelessloveand

tears.

ItwasclearJulian

understoodher.Hecould see

thestruggleshewashavingin

acceptingthistruthfulofferof

his heart. Taking her lips in

another bruising kiss, he

shiftedhishipsandpulledout

beforethrustingbackinhard.

Corajerkedforwardfromthe

power of his thrust. She

moaned and wrapped her

armstightlyaroundhisneck.

“Iloveyou,Cora,”

he whispered hotly against

her lips as he rode her hard

and deep. “I’ll never let you

goagain.Youhavemenow.

I’llkeepyousafe.I’llalways

keepyousafe.”

Hottearsrandown

hercheeksasCoraleteachof

Julian’s words burn across

herheart.Somanynightshad

she been alone, scared,

beaten,andbruised.Andyet,

here was the one man who

hadevercaredabouthernow

reaching for her, trying to

bringhertosafety.

Julian’s cock

plunged in again, so deep it

brushed against her womb.

Coracouldfeelherself rising

higher than she’d ever risen

before.Pressingher forehead

against his, she finally found

her voice and whispered,

“Together.”

Understandingher

meaning, Julian immediately

sped up his rhythm. They

writhed against each other,

trying to crawl into each

other’sbodies.And then ina

moment of pure singular

sensation, Julian and Cora

cried out into the night as

their bodies exploded in

unison. Body-shaking ripples

ofpleasurecrossedfromCora

toJulian.Herpussyclenched

and pulsed from her quaking

orgasm which only wrung a

deep groan of exhausted

pleasurefromJulian.

They leaned their

foreheads together,

exchanging their very

breaths.Finally, Julian raised

hisheadafewinches.

Coraslowlyopened

hereyesandlookedup.

Shininginhisgaze

wasalltheloveintheworld.

Ohgod.Shewas

doomed.

Ten

As the unnamed

driver carefully steered his

rattling car through the dirt

streets, Cora breathed in the

thick,humidairofMexico.

Mensatatoldcorner

shops that held dirty plastic

tables with foldaway chairs.

Street vendors peddled their

wares on wheelbarrows.

Countless stray dogs roamed

thestreets.

Coraleanedbackon

thehot leatherseatandfelta

wrenching sadness stab her

chest.

She couldn’t believe

she was actually back in

Mexico.

She couldn’t believe

she was actually heading

backtoCarlos.

She couldn't believe

shehadactuallyleftJulian.

Ithadbeenhardto

sneak away but Cora had

managed. Julian had an

afternoon meeting the next

day that couldn’t be missed.

Cora promised to go home,

change,andthenmeethimat

theoffice so theycouldhave

dinneragainafterwards.

Julianhadheldher

face and kissed her as she

stood on the doorway, ready

to leave. “I’ll see you

tonight,” he said, smiling.

“There’sstillsomuchtotalk

about.”Corahadneverseena

more devastating smile on a

man which made her only

feel more guilty as she

noddedandleft.

Shewasn’tsureshe

could meet him tonight.

Learning Julian Benedict’s

true identity only confirmed

forCoratheneedtokeephim

as far away from her

problems as possible. The

danger and scandal alone

were enough reason to push

Julian away. But Cora

couldn’t deny the

embarrassment either. He

probably never thought that

the little girl from fifteen

years agowould have grown

upintothedaughterofadrug

lord’sgirlfriend.

As she took the

subway to her apartment,

Cora wondered what she

should do. Selfishly, she

wondered if there reallywas

something Juliancoulddo. It

would be a relief to have

someoneforoncecometoher

rescue, for someone to right

all the wrongs. But Cora

refused tobe selfishwith the

only man she loved. She

would not let hermoment of

weakness fall on Julian’s

shoulders.

Corawouldfigure

some way out to help her

mom escape while keeping

Julian safely away from her

problems. And that was the

ideal she was maintaining in

her head as she walked into

herapartment.Butassoonas

she opened the door, she

heardthetinnybuzzingofher

oldbeatupphone.

Coraflippedopen

the phone with a certain

amount of dread but before

she could answer, Gloria

cried out, “Cora! Cora! You

needtohelpme!”

Corawasshockedat

Gloria’s plea. She could tell

hermomwascrying.Andshe

sounded oddly nasally…like

hernosewasbroken.Feeling

ice rundownher spine,Cora

said, “Mom?What’s wrong?

Whereareyou?”

“Cora!Ican’twait.I

need to get out of here now!

He’s just gone out of his

mind, Cora. He keeps

accusing everyone of

betrayal. He’s accusing me

for things I never did! You

needtohelpme!”

Afteryearsofmoving

aroundandabscondinginthe

night, Cora had become an

expert at uprooting herself

and leaving in a moment’s

notice. She knew now the

only thing she could do was

goandfindhermomherself.

Therewasnomoremoneyto

send and Gloria, being as

loud and needy as she was,

wouldnotbeable tofindher

wayacrosstheborderwithout

help.

Folding her papers

into an old purse, Cora

changed into an old pair of

jeans and a t-shirt. She

couldn’t buy a plane ticket.

First off, she didn’t have

enough money but secondly,

it would be too easy for

Julian to find her trail that

way.

Cora was determined

to return fromMexico safely

with hermother in tow.And

shehopedJulianwouldbein

New York, waiting for her.

But until then, he must not

find her. She had to manage

her way back into Mexico

withoutinterference.

And she had. It had

taken two days to reach

Mexico’s border and another

dayandahalftodriveallthe

way down to the southern

end.Cora’sheartpoundedas

shecreptcloserandcloser to

heroldhomeofnightmares.

The driver turned

around in his seat. “This is

theendofthetown,”hesaid,

rubbing his eyes tiredly.

“Outside of here is Carlos

Vilas’s compound and you

don’twant tobegoingintoa

placelikethat.Whereintown

shouldItakeyou?”

Cora slowly breathed

out.“Hereisgood.Gracias.”

Stepping out of the

car, she looked out towards

the dirt roads. She couldn’t

seeCarlos’snewmansionbut

shenewitwasoutthere.She

knew she was only miles

awayfromherfate.

Eleven

“I’mflyingdown

and should be there within

five hours. You keep me

postedonanythingyoufind!”

Julian snapped the phone

shut. Thank god he hadn’t

pulledPaulsonoutofMexico.

Heshould’veknown.

He should’ve fucking known

tokeepherbyhisside.Julian

closed his eyes as his jet

preparedfortakeoff.

“Shehad tohave

come back to Mexico,”

Paulson had said. Julian had

called him last night as soon

as he realized Cora was

missing.Hehadsearchedher

apartment and had found

nothingmissingexceptCora.

She hadn’t even packed a

bag. For a slim second, he

had thought she had

somehow been mugged or

kidnappedbut then, from the

peripheryofhiseye,hesawa

drawerslightlyajar.

Pullingitopen,he

found something rectangular

wrapped in paper. Peeling it

open, he found an old US

passport. Inside, a small

picture of a blonde haired,

green-eyedgirlwaslaminated

tothecover.KarenJudson.

Sothisiswhereshe

had kept her documents.

Julian rifled through the

drawerbutonlyfoundherold

passport. She had taken

everything else. That was

when Julian immediately

calledPaulson.

“Thewarrantisout

for her. Carlos wants her.

He’s looking for her. I don’t

know how far she’ll make it

inMexicobeforesheendsup

in his hands. God, I hope

she’s armed somehow,”

Paulsonhadsaidgrimly.“I’ll

hit the road right now, chief.

Keepyourphonehandy.”

Juliangrippedhis

phoneinhisfistsotightlyhe

heard a small crack. He

consciously relaxed his grip,

notwantingtobreaktheonly

link he had to more

information on Cora’s

whereabouts.

Damnyou,Cora,

Julian raged. You should’ve

come to me. You should’ve

trustedme.

Hecouldfeel the

steady whir of the plane

engines.Hehadmadesureto

tell the captain how urgently

he needed to arrive in

Mexico.

WhenIgetmyhands

on you, Cora Karen Rámon

Denton, Julian thought, he

would squeeze her close to

him,kisshertillshecouldn’t

breatheand then,youwill be

very,verysorry.

Twelve

Knock. Knock.

Pause.Knock.

Afteramomentof

silence, the tin door opened.

Cora quietly slipped in and

pushed the door closed

behind her. There was only

one dim light bulb blinking

above thembuteven through

the darkness, Cora could see

the purple mottled face of

Gloria.

“Mom!” she

whispered in shock. She

made a motion towards her

but Gloria took a step back,

shakingherhead.

“Itdoesn’tmatter,”

she said stiffly, her lips cut

and bruised. “Are you sure

you know where you’re

going?”

Coralookedaround.

Itwasthesametinshackshe

had grown up and lived in.

Butithadchangedquiteabit

sinceshehadbeentherelast.

Someonehadtriedto

expandtheplacebyknocking

out some of the walls and

joining them with extra

plywood and sheet metal to

make amore spacious room.

Cora suspected it had been a

largefamilythathadsquatted

in the shack before moving

on.Corahad lived ina room

almostthesizeofaclosetbut

now it was a more spacious

10’x10’ room. She was

slightlyamazedtheroomhad

enough structural integrity to

stayup.

“Don’t worry,

mom,” Cora said. “I have a

driver back in town who’ll

driveusfortheentirenightto

getusasfarnorthaswecan.

Fromtherewe’rehoppingthe

train.”

Gloriamovedstiffly

towardsthedoor.Shehadan

odd limp where her left leg

seemed unable to bend. “I

don’tknowhowIcanhopon

anything at the moment,”

Gloriasaidgrimly.

“Mom,”Corasaid,

taking in Gloria’s battered

face, “what happened? What

didhedo?”

Gloriagrimacedas

she moved towards the wall

to lay a supporting hand

against the sheetmetal.Cora

watched warily, unsure the

structurecould takeanykind

ofpressure.Butthewallheld

andGloria’s face eased a bit

at having something to lean

against.

“Forawhilenow,

Carlos has been losing his

mind.Businesshasn’tbeenso

goodandIthinkthat’sturned

himcrazy.Hefiredhalfofhis

men last June. And the ones

that are remaining, he

questions them constantly,

thinkingthey’restealingfrom

him.” Gloria sighed, running

a tongue across her cut lips.

“I got robbed a couple times

while making deliveries.

People have been hearing

about Carlos and his decline

and they’ve been taking

advantageofit.Butofcourse,

he won’t believe me when I

tell him I was robbed. He

thinks I stole the goods and

have been selling them

myself.”

Corawasconfused.

“How? How could he think

you would be selling his

drugs while you still lived

with him in the samehouse?

Thatmakesnosense.”

Gloria’seyesdarted

evasively around the room.

“Right….” she mumbled

noncommittally.

Shakingherhead,

shemovedon,“Idon’tknow

how farwe have to go but I

can’t walk too good. I hope

thecarisclose.”

Coramovedforward

to help her mom stand

straight.“Well,itisbut—”

Herwordswerecut

off as the tin door slammed

open, the door rattling

echoinglyagainstthetinwall.

Gloria uttered a

stifled shriek as she grasped

at Cora. Cora tried to hold

ontohermotherwhile taking

asurprisedstepback.

“Well,well,well,”

CarlosVilassaid,strokinghis

mustache, “I can’t say I’m

surprisedatalltoseethis.”

Corawasstunned.

She hadn’t seen Carlos in

years.Andasfarasshecould

seeinthedimlight,theyears

hadnotbeenkindtohim.His

hair was now a dingy gray

insteadofthegleamingblack

it had been years ago. His

mustache, once thick and

greasy, was now gray and

limp. He was still just as

rotundashehadalwaysbeen

buttherewasahollownessin

his cheeks that spoke of

weightlossfromstress.

“Iknewthekitten

would eventually come back

to her mama pussy,” Carlos

said sneeringly. He stepped

into the room, letting the tin

doorswingclosebehindhim.

Before the door shut, Cora

saw twomen standing guard

outside. Regardless of how

many men Carlos must’ve

cut, he still had enough for

hisusualprotectiondetail.

“Wh-Whatareyou

talking about, Carlos?” Cora

said, her throat tightening in

fear. She remembered how

possessive Carlos was and

she knew he couldn’t be

pleased about finding his

longtime girlfriend about to

abandonhim.

Carlos stood,

regardingbothwomenwitha

cool, calmgaze that still had

atingeofmanic.“Eventually

thedealerneedstomeetwith

her supplier, no, chica?” he

said,shiftinghisweightfrom

onefoottotheother.

Gloriaimmediately

begancrying.“Please,Carlos,

please,”shesobbedbrokenly.

“Don’thurther.IswearIwas

robbed.”

Carlossnapped.He

lunged forward and grabbed

Gloria by her hair, making

the woman shriek in pain.

“You lying puta bitch! You

think I’m stupid? You think

I’m a fool?” he nearly

screamed. “I know you’ve

been stealing! You set up

your own trade in America,

haven’tyou,youbitch?”

Cora grabbed at

Carlos’s arms, trying to free

hermom.“Carlos,lethergo!

Let her go!” The man was

surprisinglystrongathisage.

She could feel the steely

tendons of his arms as he

fisted Gloria’s hair, shaking

her with a roughness that

madeherteethclack.

“Stop!” Cora

screamed. With enormous

strength, Carlos swung his

right hand out, backhanding

Cora across her face. She

flew across the room. A

ringingechoed inher ears as

shetriedtoregainhersenses.

She tried to lift herheadand

felt immediate pain shoot

downherneckandback.Was

herneckbroken?

Taking inadeep

breath,Coratriedagain.This

time,shewasabletoraiseher

head. Spots swam across her

visionandshetastedtheiron

tinge of blood in her mouth.

Through her spotty vision,

she saw Carlos’s form walk

towardsher.

“Soyourmama’s

been giving you my product

to sell in the US, huh?” he

demanded.Hisgrayhairwas

nowmussed and standingon

edge, making him look even

wilderormoremanic.“She’s

been giving you my quality

goods so you and she could

turnaprofitbehindmyback,

huh? You little bitch!” Cora

gaspedasCarlos’sfootmade

even contact with her belly.

“Youstealinglittlebitch!”

Coratriedtodeny

his accusations. That was

insane, she wanted to say.

She had never touched drugs

inher life, let aloneCarlos’s

drugs.Shewantedtotellhim

that Gloria had legitimately

been robbed. But all she

coulddowashavehermouth

openandclose futilely likea

dying fish as she fought for

airtocomeintoherlungs.

“Carlos!”Gloria

shrieked. “I swear I was

robbed!Iswearit!”

Carlosstoodover

Cora’s fetal form.Heaving a

sigh, he ran a hand through

hishair,brushingitbackinto

place. “You think I believe

some puta bitch like you? It

doesn’t matter anyway,” he

said, his voice becoming

calm. “I know you’ve been

cheating me for years now.

And Carlos Vilas doesn’t

keepcheatersinhislife.”

Corasawtheflashof

metalagainstCarlos’shand.

“Ohplease,”Gloria

sobbed,begging.

Carlosheldthegun

loosely in his hand as he

regarded the two women.

“Whatwillbeworse,Gloria?

Going first or watching your

childdie first?”Suddenlyhis

fist gripped Cora’s shirt and

pulled her up. Turning her

around, he held her against

him,herbacktohischest.

Cora’s throatwas

completely dry. This hardly

seemed real. Still reeling

fromthepainofthekick,she

felt as if she were in some

kind of horribly realistic

nightmare.EvenCarlos’sarm

across her neck didn’t seem

real. She heard Gloria’s

cryingasifthroughatunnel.

Untilsheheardthe

gun’shammerclick.

“Ithinkthemama

pussy should watch,” Carlos

murmuredalmostseductively

intoherear.

Cora’sheartraced.

Shewanted toclosehereyes

and wake up in her bed in

NewYork.Howcouldthisbe

real? She had always feared

shewoulddieinhershackin

Mexicoandnowitwasabout

tobecomeareality.

Ifthatwasthecase,

thenshewoulddoeverything

shecouldtosaveherself.She

would die trying. She had

come too far to let it all end

inonedismalgunshot.Asshe

took in a deep breath to

screamforhelpasloudasshe

could, the tin door slammed

openagain.

Atfirst,allCorasaw

were the two crumpled

figuresonthegroundoutside

thedoorway.Carlos’sguards.

Whathadhappenedtothem?

AsCora slowly

looked up, she saw Julian

standing in the doorway,

large gun held aloft, his face

edgedinangerandfocus.

“Lethergo.”

Thirteen

Thisdefinitelywasa

dreamnow.

Therewasnoway

JulianBenedictwas standing

in front of her, in Mexico,

withagun.

Butnomatterhow

many times she blinked,

Julian stood there just as

solidlyasever.

His facewascut

with a restrained anger. He

held his gun with a steady

arm as he kept his focus on

Carlos. Julian seemed to fill

the entire shack with his

presence.Histall,broadbody

encompassed every inch of

the room and feeling his

presence, Cora breathed in a

steadybreath.

But any trace of

calmness was wiped away

fromherbeingwhenshesaw

Carlos raise his own steady

arm, pointing his gun at

Julian. “Who are you?” he

demanded.“American?”

Juliandidn’tmove.

He just kept his gun pointed

straightathistarget.“Lether

go,” he said with quiet

emphasis that spoke volumes

ofhispower.

Coracouldn’tseehis

face but she could feel

Carlos’s confusion over this

stranger’s entrance. But he

tightened his grip across her

neck, nearly choking her in

theprocess.

“You’reAmerican,”

Carlos said, this time as a

statement. “Do you know

whoIam?”

“Idon'tgiveafuck

whoyouare,”Juliansaid,his

voice sharp enough to make

onebleed.“Dropthegunand

lethergo.”

Carlos laughed.

“Youdon’tgiveafuckwhoI

am? Well you should, you

reallyshould.BecauseIhave

this girl’s life between my

twohands.”Corafeltthecold

touch of metal against her

temple,makingherbloodrun

cold.

Gloriashriekedand

Julian tightened his hold on

his gun. Cora could see the

tension strung through his

body.

“I’ll fuckingkill

you,”Juliannearlygrowled.

“NotbeforeIkill

her,” Carlos said, a leering

smile crossing his haggard

face.

A heavy tension

hungintheairasthetwomen

sized each other up. Cora

looked at Julian,willing him

tocatchhergaze.

Heseemedunableto

tear his gaze away from

Carlos but he could feel her

pull and looked. Cora didn’t

wanthimtodieinatinshack

in Mexico. She didn’t want

his life to be tainted by her

horriblepast.Shejustwanted

—had always wanted—to

lovehim.Andifthetimeshe

had to love him was only

mere seconds, she wanted to

embrace each one to the

fullest.

Hopingshecouldtell

him to run and find safety

through her eyes alone, she

held her tears back as she

looked at the only man she

had ever loved and mouthed

the words she had never

thought shewouldsay inher

life,“Iloveyou.”

Agunfired,theshot

ringingthroughthedesert

night.

TheBillionaire’sStep

PartThree

One

Ohgod,please.Oh

god,please.Ohgod,please.

Ohgodpleaseohgodpleaseohgodplease.

Julianclutched

Cora’slimpbodytohimas

heranoutofthecartowards

thegrayanddimlylit

hospital.Hehadhardlybeen

abletodrivestraightknowing

Corawassprawledinhe

backseat,bleedingprofusely.

Herheart-shapedfacethat

couldconveysympathy,love,

braverywithextraordinary

honestywasquicklyturning

anashengraythatmade

Julian’sstomachturnwith

fear.

Thesmallsquare

shapedhospitalwastheonly

medicalbuildingformiles

andalthoughJulianwanted

nothingmorethanthe

absolutebestcareforCora,at

themoment,allhehadwas

thissquarebuilding.

Heranintothe

lobby,vaguelyawareof

Glorialimpingbehindhim.

Shehadthrownherselfinto

hisSUVjustashewas

wheelingawaywithCora.He

hardlyhadthoughttobring

herwithhimorevencareif

shehadcomealong.But

comealongshehad.

“Señor!Señor!”a

smallnursecalledoutfrom

behindhim.

Julianwhipped

aroundandsawthenurse

runningtowardshim.Her

bodyimmediately

straightenedwhenshecaught

sightofhischestsoakedin

bloodandthelimpgirlinhis

arms.Butnopanickedalarm

tookover.Thiswasanurse

whowasusedtoseeingsuch

blatantandgruesome

violenceonaregularbasis.

“Pleasehelp!Help

her!”Juliancriedout,his

deepvoicereverberating

againstthedimlylitwalls.So

berserkwithworryand

adrenaline,hecouldhardly

rememberhowtoaskforhelp

inSpanish.

Butthenurseclearly

understoodhowdirethe

situationwas.Sheturnedher

headdownonehallwayand

calledoutforagurney.

BrushingbackCora’sshort

hair,matteddownbythe

bloodpouringfromtheside

ofherhead,thenurse

revealedthegirl’spalegray

face.Blueveinsstoodout

clearlyagainsthertranslucent

skin,themassivebloodloss

alreadyhavingpulledout

mostofhercolorandlife.

Thegurneyarrived

butJuliancouldn’ttakehis

eyesoffthenurse.

Hereyesweresteady

butherhandimmediately

wenttotherosarytucked

underneathhergreenscrubs.

“VayaconDios,”she

whispered.

GowithGod.

Julianfeltthe

hospitalechowiththesound

ofhisheartbreak.

“She’ssoyoung,”

Gloriasaidquietly,almostto

herself.“Theyalwayssay

whenyouhaveyouthonyour

side,youcansurvive

anything.”

Juliancouldhardly

hearher.

Hesatonthesmall

gratedmetalbench,chin

pressedagainsthisfists,ashe

leanedforwardonhisknees.

Corahadimmediatelybeen

whiskedawayintotheOR.

Afterhavingheld

Corasocloselytohim,his

armsfeltlightandempty.He

hadinstinctivelyfollowedthe

gurneybuthadbeenstopped

outsidetheswingingdoorsof

theoperatingroom.Thesmall

nursehadfirmlysathim

downonthesinglebenchthat

linedthehallway,herdark

eyeswarmwithsympathy

andpity.Itwasclearshehad

noexpectationsforsurvival.

IfJuliandidn’tfeelsonumb,

hewouldfeelragetowards

herquickacceptancefor

Cora’sfate.

Gloriahadquietly

droppedtothebench,alook

ofstunnedsurpriseonher

blood-splatteredface.

Insteadofragingor

arguinghisinsistenceof

Cora’schancesforsurvival,

Juliansatonthebench.

Andheprayed.

Two

“Iloveyou.”

Julianhadwatched

almostinslowmotionas

Cora’slipshadformedthe

wordshehadwaitedsolong

forhertosay.Butthiswasn’t

howhehadwantedhertosay

it.Hehadwantedhertosay

thosewordsasanoath,asa

promiseforalifetimeof

togetherness.

Insteadshewas

sayingitnowasgoodbye.

Julianfeltthemuscles

inhisneckclench.Likehell

it’llbe.

Hesawthechangeof

lightinCarlos’seyes.Hehad

toactfirstbeforehecouldlet

thispieceofshitpresshis

advantage.Because

advantagehecertainlyhad.

Withhisgunpressedhard

againstCora’stemple,there

wasnowayshecouldsurvive

suchashot.

Aimingcarefullyat

rightabovehiselbow,Julian

pulledthetrigger,letting

looseallhishopeswiththe

flyingbullet.

Ashehadhoped,the

shothadsurprisedCarlos,

whohadbeenexpectinga

morefatalshot.Hehadcried

outinangerastheangleof

Julian’sbullethadjerkedhis

arm,pullingthebarrelaway

fromCora.

Butthedruglordhad

morecontroloverhisbody

thanJulianhadgivenhim

creditfor.Beforehisarmhad

collapseduselesslytohis

side,hehadsqueezedhis

trigger.

Initially,itlookedlike

thebullethadjustbarely

missedCora.Shehadeven

criedoutinwarning,

“Julian!”

Buthedidn’tneed

anywarningforhissafety.As

shefellforward,allJulian

couldthinkwas:thiswashis

chance!Carlos’sbodywas

completelyopen.Andwith

hisrightarmhanging

uselesslybyhissidewith

bloodflowingfreely,Julian

knewhe’dneverhaveabetter

shot.

Withabsolutelyno

hesitationorregret,Julian

firedtwosureshotsinto

Carlos’schest.Beforethe

manhittheground,Julian

knewhewasdead.

Andgoodfucking

riddance,youhatefulfucker.

Julianletloosethe

breaththathehadbeen

holding.

Shewasfree.Cora

wouldneverhavetobeafraid

oftheloomingshadowsof

herpast.Carloswastheonly

thingthathadkeptherfrom

movingforwardandnowhe

wasadeadpileonthefloor

withnopoweroverher

future.

Butalltheairsoon

evaporatedfromhislungs

whenhelookeddownand

caughtsightofCora.

Bloodwaspooling

intoablackhaloaroundher

headwhileherbodylaylimp

onthedirtyshackfloor.

Corahadn’tcalledout

hisnameinwarning.Shehad

calledouttohiminneed.

Gloriascreamed.

“Landitwherever.I

don’tgiveafuck!”Julian

snappedintohiscellphone.

Helookedoutthe

windowofthehospital

hallway.Corahadmadeitout

ofsurgeryanhouragoand

nowJulianhadtoactfast.He

wantedtogethertoabigger

hospitalwithmoreresources

tocareforher.Theproblem

wastheareahewasinwas

tooruralevenforpickup.

Thehelicopterpilot

hadsaidhewouldarrivein

abouttwentymoreminutes.

Buttherewasnodesignated

helipadinsuchasmall

remotehospitalandthepilot

wasn’tsureifthebuilding

wasstructurallysound

enoughtolandon.Julianhad

sighedinfrustratedanger.

Therewasplentyofopen

spaceeveninthemiddleof

theroadandevenrightin

frontofthetinyhospital.And

asfarasJulianwas

concerned,hecouldcareless

wherethehelicopterlanded

justsolongasitlandedand

landedfast.

Thehospitalin

Maraño,thenearestsizeable

city,wasstandingatreadyfor

theirarrival.Tappingthe

phoneagainsthisthigh,he

quicklydecidedagainst

callingtheotherhospitalin

MexicoCityhehadbeenin

contactwith.Itwastoofar

andhewasn’tsureCora

couldmakeit.

Afteranother

frustratedsighof

helplessness,Julianquickly

strodebackintothetiny

hospitalroom.

Coralookedsosmall

inthesimpleyetclean

hospitalbed.

Herfacelookedeven

smallerwiththeturbanof

bandageswrappedaroundher

head.Seeingherstillform

andthesteadylightbeepof

theheartmonitormadeallof

Julian’smusclestightenand

loosenatthesametime.He

felthelplessyetalso

frustratedandangry.He

wantedtoboundoutofthe

hospitalandruntoMaraño

withCorainhisarms.Buthe

alsowantedtoslideintothe

bed,holdthisdelicatewoman

nearhim,andjustfeelher

body’swarmthagainsthis.

Sittingintheonly

chairintheroom,Julian

scootedclosertothebed.He

hadliterallybeentraveling

nonstopsincehehad

discoveredCora’s

disappearance.Oncearriving

inMexico,ithadbeenan

easymatterofpickingupa

gunbutamuchmoredifficult

matteroffindingadriver

braveenoughtotakehim

whereheneededtogo.

Andallthewhile,

Julian’shearthadbeen

poundingasteadyrhythm

againsthisribs.Heworried

thathewouldbetoolate.

God,letherbealright.Let

herbealright,Julianhad

chantedthroughoutthe

journey.Imagesofhershort

bobandflashingsmilewould

flitterinandoutofhismind.

Justyouwait,littlegirl,

Julianwouldgrithisteeth.

Youareundermyprotection

now.Nomorerunningofffor

you.

Gently,Juliantook

Cora’slimphand.Although

shewaswarmerthanshehad

beenbackintheshack,her

fingertipsstillfeltcooltothe

touch.Herpulsewasslow

andthready.Knowinghow

closehehadbeentolosing

her,knowinghowclosehe

wastolosingher,Julianlost

hisrestraint.

Hegrippedherhand

tightlyashepressedhis

foreheadagainsttheirclasped

palms.“Don’tyoudareleave

me,”hewhisperedfiercely.

Hethoughtabouthowsweet

shehadtastedinParis.He

rememberedhergentleyet

passionatetouch.“I’vebeen

lookingforyoumywhole

life,Cora.Youdon’tgetto

leavemenow.”

Thebullethadcome

inatanangle.Ithadcauseda

fleshwoundwhichhadbled

profusely.Theimpactofthe

bullethadfracturedherskull

andhadcausedsome

swellinginthebrain.Even

thoughJulian’sSpanish

wasn’tperfect,heknewcoma

translatedacrossbothEnglish

andSpanishandhisheart

clenchedtoheartheword.

Heheldherhand

tighterthanheknewhe

should.Julianfeltlikeifhe

heldhertightlyenough,he

couldsomehowinfusehis

ownstrengthintoher.Butno

matterhowtightlyorforhow

longheheldherhand,her

fingertipsremainedcoldand

herpulseslow.Juliancould

smellthetangofherdried

bloodonhisshirt.

Hedidn’tknowhow

longhehadbeensittingthere

whenasmallhandgently

tappedhisshoulder.He

jerkedawakeandsawthe

smallnursestandingbehind

him.

“Thehelicopteris

here,”shesaid.

Juliannoddedquickly,

tryingtogatherhiswits.

Whenhadhelastslept?Ithad

tohavebeenover48hours

ago.LettinggoofCora’s

hand,Julianmadespacefor

thenursestostrapCoraintoa

gurneysoshecouldbe

airliftedtoMaraño.

OnceCorawas

secured,theteamgentlybut

quicklymovedoutofthe

roomandoutintothestreet

whereasmallhelicopterwas

waiting.Julianbeganto

followthemoutoftheroom

whenheturnedbackaround

tocatchsightofthenurse.

Heexpected,perhaps

hoped,thenursewouldgive

himanencouragingsmileand

nodherhopefulnessfor

Cora’srecovery.Afterall,

eventhoughCorahadjust

lostashittonofbloodand

hadhadherheadscraped

open,shewasstillaliveand

breathing,wasn’tshe?

Butinsteadhesawthe

nursepullagainatherrosary.

Herdarkeyeswere

understandingand

sympathetic.Butnothopeful.

AsJulianturned

away,hecouldhearthesoft

clickingoftherosarybeads

followhimout.

Three

Knockknock!

Gloria’sheadshotup

atthesound.

Sittingupinherbed,

shewascoveredinbandages.

AlthoughCora’sstatuswas

muchmoredire,onewould

thinktheoppositewhen

lookingbetweenthetwo

women.OnlyCora’shead

wasswathedinbandages

whileGloria’slegwas

strappedtosomekindof

splint,herwristsbandaged,

herfacegreasywithsalves

thenurseshadsmearedonto

healthesmallcutsand

bruisesshewascoveredin.

Butthewoman’s

eyeswerebrightandalert.

Shewasverymuchawareof

theprecarioussituationshe

wasin.

Loweringhishand

fromthedoor,Julianwalked

inwithoutwaitingforan

invitation.

Gloria’seyes

widenedasshetookinthe

sightofthemanwhohad

rescuedherandherdaughter.

Thatnightintheshackhad

allbeensuchablur,she

hardlyhadenoughsanityto

recognizeJulianforaman,

letalonethiskindofman.

Standingatwellover

sixfeettall,heclearlyhada

commandingpresence.His

broadphysiqueandlarge

handsspokeofanundeniable

strength.Butitwastherough

stubbleandsteelyeyesthat

madeGloria’sheartskipa

terrifiedbeat.Helookedlike

rawrageincarnate.Therewas

somethingprimalintheman

thatmadehimseemmore

dangerousthanCarloscould

everhavebeen.Itwashardto

believethismanhadever

beenherstepson.

“Gloria.”Julian’s

deepvoiceheldnosympathy

orwarmth.

“Julian,”Gloriasaid

afteramoment’shesitation.

“Wouldyouliketosit

down?”sheasked,motioning

towardsthetwochairsnextto

herbed.

Marañohadamuch

biggerhospitalandhadmuch

moreequippedfacilities.But

theywerenostrangersto

violence.Aftertakinginthe

bloodysightofJulian,Gloria,

andCora,theyimmediately

wenttowork.Corawas

whiskedawaytoanintensive

careunitforspecial

monitoringwhileGloriawas

takenintoanotherwingtobe

examined.

Anursetriedtopull

Julianintoanotherroomto

attendtowhatshehad

assumedwasagraveinjury

ofhis,consideringthe

amountofbloodonhisshirt.

ButJulianhadresistedand

insteadhadstoodright

outsidetheICUwithhiscell

phoneinhand.Heneededto

makesomecallsbuthewould

makethemwherehecould

hearanursecallforhimin

caseCoratookaturnforthe

worse.

Gloriasawthat

Julianhadsomehowgottena

cleanshirtbutheobviously

hadn’thadachanceto

shower.Flecksofbloodstill

paintedJulian’sneck.

“No,”Juliansaid,

notevenglancingdownatthe

offeredchairs.“Iwon’tbe

herelong.”

Glorialookedathim

assessingly.Atonetime,she

hadbeentheonlymotherhe

had.Wouldheturnsomeone

likethatovertothepolice?

Afterall,shehadbeen

consortingwithanotorious

druglordforoveradecade,

evenrunningdeliveriesfor

him.Thatkindofillicit

behaviorcouldlandGloriain

aMexicanprisonforlife.

Sheknewshehadto

playhercardscarefully.

“You’vecertainly

grownup,haven’tyou?”she

saidinwhatshehopedwasa

motherlytone.

Butinsteadof

softeninghim,Julian’seyes

onlyblazedhotter.Hedidn’t

askhowsheknewwhohe

was.Glorialiterallygulpedas

shefeltherselfpinnedbyhis

gaze.

“I’mheretotellyou

thatthisisit,Gloria,”Julian

said,hisvoicehardassteel

andsharpasarazorblade.

“Youarenolongerallowed

tohaveanykindofcontact

withCorafromhereonout.

Untilshedecidestoseeor

talktoyou,youaretoremain

farawayfromher.”

Gloriabitherlipand

gavehimaquickmousylook

thatmadeJulianthinkofarat

tryingtofindhiswayoutofa

sinkingship.

“That’snotreallyfor

youtodecide,isn’tit?”she

said.“Youcan’tseparatea

motherfromherdaughter.”

Juliansnorted.“A

motheranddaughter,huh?”

heechoed.Hegaveaquick

lookaroundtheroomtomake

sureitwasjustthetwoof

thembeforeleaninginand

saying,“Itwasyouwhotold

VilasitwasCorawhowas

takingthose‘stolen’drugs

andsellingthemintheUS,

wasn’tit?Neededafucking

scapegoatandwhenyou

couldn’tfindagoodone,you

soldoutyourownfucking

daughter,didn’tyou?”

Gloriagavehima

lookoffeignedmotherly

indignation.Butunder

Julian’scoldstare,thefaçade

meltedandhertrue

annoyanceandcalculating

facerevealeditself.

“Ireallyhadbeen

robbed,”shesaidwithahuff

ofirritationatherfailedplan

ofwooingJulianwithsome

motherlydistress.“But

Carloswasjusttoocrazyat

thatpointtolisten.Toomany

knewabouthisbreakdown

andhisparanoiaandwere

takingadvantageofitby

robbinghisdeliveriesmid-

route.”

Juliancouldhardly

standtolookatthewoman.

Didshefeelnoempathyfor

thefactthatherdaughterhad

takenabullettotheheadand

wasnowinICUfightingfor

herlifeallsothatGloria

couldgetanotherchanceat

herlife?

“WhenCarloswent

intohisparanoidspirals,he

wouldreallyspin,”Gloria

said,wincingalittleatthe

memory.Shethenliftedher

chinsothelightofthe

hospitalroomcouldperfectly

shinedownonhermottled

andbruisedface.“Hewould

getviolent,”sheadded

unnecessarily.

Julianremained

silentandstoicasgranite.He

feltnosympathyforawoman

whoseemedtothriveon

dangerousandreckless

behavior.

“Onenightwhenhe

wasbeatingmerealbad,I

saidthatmaybethatwashow

Corawassurvivinginthe

States.Maybeshehadgotten

aholdofsomeoftherival

dealersandhadpartneredup

andwererobbinghim….”

Gloria’svoiceandgaze

trailedoff.Shegaveasmall

shrugasifheractionswere

onlyinevitablegivenher

circumstances.

Juliancouldfeelthe

rageboilingthroughhisbody.

Hehadseenthelittleshoebox

ofanapartmentCorahad

beenlivingininNewYork.

ShewaspaidwellatJB

Enterprises—Julianmade

sureofit—andyether

apartmentwasassparseasan

abandonedlot.Clearlyshe

wasnotspendinganyofher

salaryonherself.He

imaginedhowhardand

frighteningitmust’vebeento

crawlfromthebellyof

Mexicoallthewaytothe

borderandthentocrosswith

nothingbutgutsand

gumption.

Julianreachedinto

hispocketandpulledout

Cora’ssecretbatteredand

worncellphone.Theonly

linkbetweenGloriaandCora.

Hethrewitontoherbed

whereitlandedwithasoft

plopnexttoherknees.

Gloriastaredatitbut

didn’tpickitup.She

understoodwhatthismeant.

WithoutCora,shehadno

moresafetynets,backups,or

insurance.Slowly,shelooked

overthistall,powerful,

wealthyman.

“Youknow,”she

started,inatonethatmade

Julian’sguardimmediately

riseupevenhigher,“even

thisfarsouthwegetthe

news.JBEnterprisesisquite

anicemoneymaker,isn’tit?”

Julianfeltfilthyjust

beinginthesameroomwith

thiswoman.Fromhisback

pocket,hepulledoutathick

whiteenvelope.Hethrewthat

downnexttothephone.

Gloriaimmediatelypickedit

upandbegancountingthe

bills.Shelookedup,

disappointed.

“Thiswon’tbe

enoughto—”

“That’sright,”Julian

interrupted.“It’snotenough

moneyforyoutogo

gallivantingaroundcausing

moretrouble.Butitisenough

moneyforyoutogosetup

shopinanewtowntolivea

morequietanddareIsay,

peaceful,life.”

Gloriaclutchedthe

packetofmoneyandglaredat

Julian.“Icouldeasilygoto

thepoliceandtellthemCora

wasconnectedtoCarlos.I

couldbringbackupthe

murdercharge.She’dbe

stuckhereinMexicothenand

evenwithallthatJB

Enterprisemoney,it’dtake

months,ifnotyears,tofully

clearhername.”

Oh,athreat?Sothat

washowshewantedtoplay

it.

Julianleaneddown

overthemetalsiderailingsof

thebed.Hecarefullyplaced

bothhandsonthethinmetal

andsqueezed.Notonlydid

thishelptodemonstratethe

sizeofhisdefinedarmsbutit

alsohelpedJulianfromtrying

tosnapthiswoman’sneckin

half.

“Justtryit,”hesaid

inawhisperthatcouldcut

throughamountain.“I

fuckingdareyouto.Because

Gloria,youhavebeen

workinginsideadrugcartel

forthebetterpartofadecade.

Youknowinglyand

consciouslyhelpedadrug

lorddistributehisgoods.And

thatmurderchargeofCora’s?

Youwereanaccessoryin

helpingtoorganizeabribeto

impedecharges.Thenwhat

aboutkidnapping?Wecan

contacttheauthoritiesbackin

thegoodoldUSAandpullup

allthemissingpersons

reportsmyfatherhadmade

aboutyouandCora.How

willacaselookbetweena

womanlikethatandatwenty

fiveyearoldkidnapped

daughterwhousedself

defenseagainstrape?”Julian

watchedGloria’sfacepale

andherthroatbobasshe

swalloweddryly.

Julianstraightenedup.

“Andjustasyou’vesokindly

pointedout,withallof‘that

JBEnterprisemoney,’Iwill

makesureyouarefully,

completely,wholly

prosecutedforyourcrimes.”

Anursehurriedpastthe

room,chartsinhand.He

knewhe’dhavetogetgoing

soon.Therewasstillalotto

do.Givingherthebenefitone

morewarninglook,headded,

“Believeme,you’llbedoing

meafavorbygoingtothe

policebecausethereis

nothingIwantmorethanto

throwyourassinprison.”

Gloriasatstunnedin

herbed,theenvelopeof

moneydroopingslightlyin

herhands.Theoldcellphone

layforgottenbyherside.

Satisfiedthathehad

gothismessagethrough,

Julianturnedaroundand

walkedawayfromhis

father’sruinationandCora’s

nightmare.

Four

Despitewhathehad

saidinGloria’shospital

room,Cora’smurdercharge

wasstillahugeweightthat

hungoverherandherfuture.

Heknewhehadtohavethat

resolvedbeforetheycould

thinkaboutmovingforward.

Julianpressedthe

mostrecentandcalledupon

numberonhisphone.

“Paulson,areyouhereyet?”

“Atthestation,

chief,”thegruffdetective

answeredimmediately.

“RequestingCora’soldfiles

tobesentheretotheMaraño

policestation.”

Julianfelthischest

relaxalittlebitathearingthe

competencyinPaulson’s

voice.“Goodman.I’llbe

thereinfiveminutes.”

“Doyouwantmeto

bringyouachangeof

clothes?”

Julianshookhis

head.TheMexicanheatwas

nojokingmatter.Hehad

sweatedthroughhisshirt

allowingthedirtanddustof

thestreetstoclingthatmuch

tightertohim.

Buthehadn’tpaid

anymindtoanyofit.There

hadbeensomanythingsto

do,Juliancouldcareless

whatheorhisshirtlooked

like.

Paulsonshrugged

andleanedagainstthe

hospitalroomwall,nearthe

door.Theoldermanwatched

asJuliansatnexttoCora’s

bed,hiselbowsonhisknees

andaclearprayeremitting

fromhisentirebeingforthe

girl’srecovery.Thelovethe

youngermanheldforthis

womanwasclearasday.It

brokePaulson’shearttosee

Juliansoenvelopedinhis

grief.

Notwantingtragedy

totaketheyoungerman

unawares,Paulsonclearedhis

throatbeforesaying,“The

doctorsheredon’t

recommendherbeingmoved.

She’stoofragilerightnow.”

“Iknowthat,”Julian

repliedhollowlywithout

takinghiseyesoffCora.He

watchedasherchestroseand

fellwitheachbreath.Even

takingheronthehelicopterto

Marañohadbeenahugerisk

anditwasonlybyluckand

theskilledpeopleofthe

MarañohospitalthatCora

hadsurvivedthejourney.

“Theysaythatwith

eachpassingdaywithherina

coma,there’slesschanceof

her—”

“Iknowthat,”Julian

interrupted,hisvoicealittle

harsher.

Thedetectiverubbed

ahandagainsthischeek.He

didnotwantingtobethe

bearerofmorebadthoughts

butfeltameasureof

responsibilityingivinghis

bossasmallrealitycheck,if

onlytosavehimfrommore

heartache.“Thenshouldwe

prepareforarrangementsto

bemade…funeralor

otherwise…justincase?That

waywecanhaveaplane

waiting—”

Julianslammedhis

fistagainstasmallsidetable.

HeglaredatPaulsonwitha

rageonlybarelycoveringup

thedeepfearwithin.Heknew

whatthedoctorsandnurses

hadsaid.Theyhadbeenvery

bluntwithhim.Corahad

shownnoimprovementinthe

lastthreedaystheyhadbeen

inMaraño.

ButJulianhadn’t

focusedonthat.Insteadhe

hadfocusedontryingtofix

everythingelse.Hehad

turnedhisattentionsinstead

ontoGloria,Carlos,the

murdercharges—everything

exceptCora’scoma.Hehad

workedandworkedunderthe

desperateassumptionthat

Corawouldwakeup.And

whenshedid,shewould

wakeuptoaworldofno

morefearorpastobligations.

Hewouldmakesureofit.

Allofhisefforts

wereforaCorawhowould

wakeup.

ACorawhowould

live.

Butifthatdidn’t

happen?Ifsheneverwokeup

again?

Julianshookhis

head.Lookingblindlyatthe

bed,hesaidslowly,“No

funeral.Noarrangements.

Shewillwakeup.”Helooked

atthedetectiveasiftryingto

forcehimtoagreewithhim.

“Shewillwakeup.”

Paulsonnodded,his

faceshowingnoflickerof

doubtorpity.“Ofcourse,”he

murmured.

Thedetectiveleaned

hisheadbackagainstthewall

andbeganquietlyplanning

thenecessaryarrangementsto

bringbackhomeabodyanda

grievingman.

Five

Therewasasoft

ringingsound.

Itreverberatedasif

itwascomingthroughalarge

poolofwater.

Slowlysheturned

herhead.

Feelinglikeher

wholebodyweigheda

thousandpounds,Cora

blinkedandfeltherselfdrown

inwhitelight.

Echoingvoices

surroundedher.Coolhands

touchedherarms.Words

slippedinandoutofclarity.

Wherewasshe?

Herheadpounded

withferocity.Shecouldn’tbe

deadifherheadhurt.Right?

Ifshehadtheenergy,

shewouldpanicfromher

senseofconfusionbutshe

wasjusttootired.Even

blinkingtooktoomucheffort.

Butevenasshefelther

thoughtsracethroughher

mind,shefeltthesoftness

underneathher,thecoolness

aroundher.

Shewassomewhere

safe.Thatmuchshecould

tell.

Butfeelingthe

thumpingpainofherhead,

shewonderedifshecould

trustthisfeelingofsafety.

Afterall,ifshetrulywere

safe,whywouldshebeinany

kindofpain?

Thevoicesaroundher

grewmorefervent.Shefelt

likeshewassurroundedbya

cloudofbuzzingbees,each

tryingtograbasliceofher

attention.

Wherewasshe?

“Cora.”

Herbreathhitched.

Herheartskipped.

Sherememberedthat

voice.Sheknewthatvoice.

Shelovedthatvoice.

“Cora.”

Thatdeeptimbreof

protection,strength,love.

Yes,itwastothatvoiceshe

wouldswimtowards.Itwas

tothatvoiceshewouldreach

outfor.

Herthroatfeltnumb

andhertongueswollen.But

shecouldhearherheartcry

out,Julian.Julian.

Six

“Señorita,pleasefeel

better,”thelargepolice

officersaidasheroseheavily

tohisfeet.“Andwe

appreciateyourstatement.

It’llhelpourcaseagainst

manyofthecartelsinthis

area.”

Coranoddedthen

immediatelystopped,

regrettingtheshaking

movement.Itwasonlythe

seconddayshewasallowed

tositupinbedandshewas

alreadyfeelingquite

exhaustedfromtheeffort.

Thepoliceofficer

shookherhandandthenhad

afriendlywordwitha

passingnursebeforeleaving.

Coralookedaround

thehospitalroom,still

marvelingather

surroundings.Shehardlyhad

anymemoriesofthelastfew

days.Sherememberedthe

shack.Gloria.

Sheremembered

Carlos’stobaccoladenbreath

ticklingherearashegripped

hertightlyagainsthim,the

coldmetalbarrelofhisgun

pressedagainsthertemple.

Andsheremembered

Julian.

Sherememberedthe

loveshefeltforhimandthe

regretthatshewouldnever

getachancetoexpressit.

Thenitallwentblack.

Corablinkedhardto

pushbacktheterrifying

memoriesofthatnight.The

fearthatshehadfeltwhen

Julianhadfacedoffagainst

Carloshadbeen

overwhelming.

Shelookedtowards

theemptychairnexttoher

bed.

Sinceregaining

consciousness,everymoment

shewokeup,shewouldsee

Juliannexttoher.Shewould

seethehardlinesofhisface

etcheddeepwithworryand

whatlookedlikeguilt.She

wonderedhazilywhyhe

shouldfeelanykindofguilt.

Thenshewouldslipbackinto

adarksleep,onlytowakeup

tothecomfortofJulian’s

protectivepresence.

Butthiswasthefirst

timehewasnothere.

Thiswasthefirsttime

Corahadwokenupaloneand

shefelttheacheforJulian’s

presencedistinctly.

Shewonderedwhere

hewas.Cometothinkofit,

shewonderedwhereGloria

was.Corahadyettoseethe

womanandshewondered

vaguelyifshewasokay.

Thishospitalroom,

thepoliceofficer,eventhe

absenceofGloria—Cora

somehowknewJulianwas

behinditall.Corahadlived

inMexicoforthebetterpart

ofherlifeandthelevelof

careshewasreceivingspoke

ofsomekindofhigherpower

atwork.Thiswasbeyond

whatanytypicalMexican

patientwouldreceive.

Thepoliceofficerhad

comeinandaskedforher

statementofthatfateful

night’sevents.Hermemories

werestillhazybutshegave

herfullaccount.Shehad

beenworriedthathermurder

chargewouldbebrought

backupagain.Butalmost

immediately,theofficerhad

puthermindatease.

“Youareverybrave,”

theofficerhadsaidashe

finishedtakinghisnotes.

“Aftertheattackyouendured

manyyearsago…andnow

this.”Hescratchedathis

foreheadandsighed.“Many

menwouldnothavehadthe

couragetoreturn,evento

savetheirownmother.You

areverybrave.”

Corahadbeen

shockedspeechless.

Thepoliceofficerwas

onherside.

Herecognizedher

attackasattemptedrape

ratherthanattemptedmurder.

Tearshad

immediatelysprungtoher

eyes.Gratitudeandrelief

overwhelmedher.

Julianhaddonethis.

Hehadsomehow

clearedthingsupwiththe

policeandmadesurethather

attemptedmurderchargewas

re-investigated.Corahada

sneakingsuspicionthatJulian

hadbeenbusycleaningthings

upforherwhileshehadbeen

inthehospital.

TheModel

Millionairewascleaningup

hermess.

Corawould’ve

laughedifitdidn’tacheso.

Julianhadovercomea

neglectfulfathertoriseinto

unbelievableprominencein

thebusinessworld.Hehad

amassedanincredibleempire

onintellectandgutsalone.

Allthewhile,hehadtortured

himselfwiththoughtsofhis

loststepsister.

Hehadprobably

imagineddestitutesituations

forthelostKaren.Maybea

welfarerecipient.Maybea

soupkitchenregular.Butin

nowaycouldhehave

possiblyimaginedherreal

life—thedaughterofa

Mexicandruglord’s

girlfriend,livinginashackin

themiddleofcartel

territories,havingoncebeen

aslowasabeggaronthe

streets.

Andnow,insteadof

heartfeltreunion,allCorahad

broughtintoJulian’slifewas

chaosanddanger.God,he

hadalmostbeenshotbecause

ofher!

Buttheabsoluteworst

partwassomethingeven

Coradidnotwanttoadmitto

herself.Butlookingdownat

herhandsastheygrippedthe

hospitalsheets,sheknewshe

couldn’tdenythetruth.

Shenolongerwas

KarenDenton.

ShewasCoraRámon.

Maybeatsomepoint,

shehadbeenKaren,the

scaredandscarredlittlegirl.

ButnowshewasCora

Rámon.Shewasthestreet

urchinwhohadgrownup

aroundgangsandcrooked

copsandhadsavedenough

pesosthroughblood,sweat,

andtearstomakeanewlife

forherselfinAmerica.Itwas

CoraRámonwhohadmade

herwaytoNewYorkandhad

gottenjobafterjobtillshe

roseincrementallyupthe

workingladder.

AndwhenJulianmet

her,itwasCoraRámonhe

hadinterviewed.

NotKarenDenton.

Corasighedand

leanedbackagainsther

pillow.

WhodidJulianexpect

topulloutofthiswreckage?

Didhethinkthatwiththe

deathofCarlos,Karenwould

magicallyreappeartoreplace

Cora?Whenheflewbackto

NewYork,whodidhethink

hewouldhavewithhim?

Cora’sstomach

twistedandsankalittle.

Shehadafeelingit

wasn’ther.

Seven

“Ahit’sSeñor

Benedicttoseeyou!”the

nursesaidcheerily.Itwas

clearallthenurseswerequite

smittenwiththisAmerican

businessman.Corahad

caughtafewofthemtittering

inwistfulsighsastheysaw

howprotectivelyJulianhad

watchedoverher.

Coralookedupand

hadherbreathcatchinher

throatatthesight.

Thenursehad

suggestedtheywalkaboutthe

smallgardenbehindthe

hospital.Afterlyingpronein

acomaforseveraldays,

Cora’smuscleshadbadly

atrophied.Thenurseshad

takenturnsinhelpingher

walktoregainsomemuscle

definition.

Todaytheyhad

takenseveralslowturns

aroundthemodestgarden

beforetakingamuchneeded

breakonabench.

Coralookedupfrom

herrestatthementionof

Julian’snamethough.

Andinfronther,

camestrollingvirile

masculinityitself.

Tall,broad

shouldered,andafacethat

spokeofamanwhoalways

madesuretogetthingsthe

wayhewantedwhenhe

wantedit—itmadeCora’s

heartjumpinjoyandachein

longingatthesametime.

Hispresencefeltso

largeandencompassing,he

seemedtofilluptheentire

gardenwithhisstrength.Just

seeinghim,Corafelt

stronger.

Shegavehimasmall

smile.

Juliangrinnedand

gaveheraroguishwink,

makingCora’sheartleaplike

ajumpingbean.

FordaysJulianhad

sportedroughstubblethat

wascrossingintobeard

territoryashestoodover

Cora’shospitalbed,

murmuringwordsofloveand

encouragementforhertopull

through.

Nowhehadcleaned

upandputonafittedsuit.

Themanslicedthroughthe

humdrumMexicantownlike

asteelcutblade.

“How’sthepatient

doing?”Julianaskedthe

nurseinperfectSpanish.

Thenursebeamed,

pattingCora’sarm.“Ohjust

fine!She’swalkingwithalot

morestrengthnow.”The

nursepausedandlookedup

andaskedwithhesitant

foreboding,“Corahasbeen

discharged.Willyoube

leavingwithhersoon?”

Juliannodded.

“That’swhyI’mhere.”

Thenurse’sfacefell.

Thiswouldbeahugeblowto

thehospital’sentirefemale

staff.

Coratriedtosmother

hersmile.

Butnotfastenough

forJulian.Raisingabrowin

herdirection,Julianthen

leaneddowntowardsthe

smallnurseandgavehera

kissonthecheek.“Ican’tsay

howthankfulIamforthe

careyouandtheentirestaff

havegivenmyCora,”hesaid,

makingsuretogivethenurse

thefullbenefitofhiswarm

gaze.“Isincerelyappreciate

it,”headdedhuskily.

Corahadneverseen

awomanmeltbeforebutit

wasquiteasight.

Thenursequivered

andaslowbutbrightblush

crawleduphernecktowards

hercheeks.Utteringahigh

nervoustitteringlaugh,the

nurseplayfullyslapped

Julian’sarm.

Coracouldn’thide

hersmilethistimearound.

Shecouldn’tblame

thenurse.Whowouldn’t

blushandmeltwhenfaced

withthelikesofJulian

Benedict?

Thenursekissed

Cora’scheeksandwishedher

wellonherreturntoAmerica

thenreturnedbackinside,

leavingCoraandJulianalone

inthegarden.

Afterabeatof

silence,Coralookedup.“Are

weheadingback?”

Juliansatdownnext

toheronthebench.Easily

takingherhandintohis,he

nodded.“Ihaveaplane

waitingtotakeushome.”

Corabitherlip.

Home.Wasitreallyassimple

asthat?

Julianstudiedher.

“Cora,”hesaid,“didyou

wanttostayinMexicoalittle

longer?”Histoneindicated

thatshewouldnotbehere

aloneifshesaidyes.Itwould

bedifficultbutshewassure

Julianwouldfindawayto

conducthisbusinessfrom

here.

Corashookherhead.

Noitwasn’tthat….

Thensuddenlyithit

her.Shesuddenlyrealized

whatshewantedtodo.

“Beforewego

home,”Corasaidslowly,“I

wanttoseethathouse….Our

oldhouse.”

Julian’seyebrows

roseatherrequest.

Shehadnowayof

knowingifthehousewasstill

there.Probablynot.Andshe

wasn’tsureifJulianwould

wanttogobacktoaplaceof

suchnegativememories.

Corabitherlipharderasshe

waitedforJulian’sresponse.

Butshedidn’thave

towaitlong.Gentlygrabbing

herchin,Julianswipedhis

thumbagainstherlowerlip,

pullingitfreefromherteeth.

“Okay,”hesaid.

“Let’sgo.”

Eight

Julianhadparked

downthestreet.“Doyou

thinkyoucanwalktherestof

thewaythere?”

Coralookedoutthe

window.Noneofitlooked

familiar.Ofcourseher

memoriesofthatpreviouslife

werequiteshakysoshe

couldn’tsayforsure.But

nothingbroughtupevenan

inklingoffamiliarity.

Turningaround,she

noddedwithasmallsmile.

“Sure.”

Sotogether,they

walkedsidebysidedowna

widegravelpath.Corawas

positivethisusedtobea

pavedroad.Couldher

memoriesbethisbad?It

wouldn’tbesurprisingsince

shehadbeentryingtoerase

herchildhoodfromayoung

age.Butwhywoulda

residentialareahaveagravel

roadratherthanpaved?

Largetreeslined

eithersideoftheroad.This

wasalittlemorefamiliar.

UpstateNewYorkoffered

moresprawlingnaturethan

thecity.

CorawassureJulian

hadbeenpuzzledbyher

requesttovisittheoldhouse.

Butshewastouchedbyhow

hehadimmediatelyagreed

withoutquestioningher

motives.

Theroadturnedand

immediatelyopenedupintoa

smallclearing.Whathad

oncebeenamodestculdesac

nowwasagravelclearing

surroundedbylargetrees.

Inthemiddleofthe

clearingstoodonlyone

house.

Theirhouse.

“It’sstillhere,”Cora

breathedinsurprise.

Juliannodded.“It

is.”

“Wherearetheother

houses?”Coralookedaround.

Itwasoddtoseethelone

housestandingbyitself.It

wasasifthehousestoodina

bubble,enclosedbythetrees.

Juliankickedat

someofthegravel,handsin

hispockets.Heseemeda

littlereluctanttospeak.“This

areahasbeendeadfor

awhile.Mostofthehomes

hadstoodemptyforyearsas

bank-ownedproperties.A

fewyearsback,aproperty

companywantedtobuyout

thistractofhousesandtear

themdowntobuildsome

condos.”Julianshrugged.

“AssoonasIheardaboutthe

deal,Iboughtthelandbefore

theycould.”

Coralookedpuzzled.

Julianwasanimpeccable

businessman.Havingworked

ashispersonalassistant,she

knewexactlyhowshrewd

andtacticalhisbusinesssense

was.Whywouldhebuythis

hugeplotoflandanddo

nothingwithit?

“Thenwhyisthisthe

onlyhou—?”

“Because,”Julian

interrupted,lookingupatthe

housewithanindecipherable

expression,“itwastheonly

linkIhadwithyou.The

housewasallIhadofyou,

Cora.”

Cora’sthroat

immediatelyclenched.Cora

rememberedthepain,the

violenceGloriahadinflicted

inthathouse.Andthenthe

neglectandself-indulgence

Julian’sfathermusthave

wallowedinafterGloria’s

disappearance….Andyet

Julianhadkeptthehouse

despiteallthepainbecauseof

her.BecauseofCora.

No.Becauseof

Karen.

“Julian,”Cora

started,herthroatthickwith

emotion,“Idon’tknowthe

painyoumust’vebeen

throughtofindme.”How

muchhadsheachedtohavea

knightinshiningarmorto

comerescueher?Butshe

wouldnotbesoselfishto

bringdownherknightinto

thesamequagmireshehad

beenstuckinforyears.“And

IwishIcouldgiveyouthe

girlyouwerelookingfor.I

wishIcouldgiveyouKaren.

ButIcan’t.”

Cora’svoicebroke.

Shelookeddownather

shoes.“I’velivedawholelife

asCorathatKarennever

could’vesurvived.Andthat’s

good.Coraisnotclean.She’s

notgood.Andthelastthing

I’dwanttodoisruinthe

memoryyouhaveofKaren.”

Ahottearthreatenedtospill

downhercheek.Shehastily

swipedathereye,refusingto

cry.“I’mnot—”

Julianliftedher

cheek.Coratriedtoresistbut

hishandgentlybutfirmly

liftedherfacetohis.She

lookeduptoseehisshocked

expression.

“Cora,you—”He

stopped,unsureastohowto

expresshimself.

Abruptly,hetook

herhandandledheraround

theclearingtowardstheback

ofthehouse.Behindthe

housestoodahugefieldthat

wasforestedwithtall,slender

youngtrees.Theyhadbeen

plantedawhilebackandwere

quietlygrowingintomaturity.

Soon,they’dbebigand

strong,coveringthegreen

fieldwithdappledshade.

Itwasbeautiful.

“Thiswasnever

here,”Corawhispered,

overcomebyaweatthe

peacefullittleforest.

Julianpulledherinto

thefield,standingamidstthe

trees.

“That’sright,”he

said.“Itwasn’t.”

Takingbothher

hands,helookedupatthe

slimbranchesreachingout

towardsthesky,thelight

greenleaveswinkinginthe

sunlight.

“Cora,”hesaid,

turninghisheartstoppinggaze

backtowardsher,“Inever

thoughtaboutKarenDenton

forthepastdecade.”He

pushedbackastraylock

behindherear.“Ithought

aboutthelittlegirlwhowas

strongerandbraverthanany

tenyearoldneededtobe.I

thoughtabouttheyoung

womanshehadprobably

growninto.Ithoughtabout

howunfairlifehadbeento

saddleherwithsomuch

baggagebeforeshewas

strongenoughtocarrythem.

Inotherwords,”hesaid,

pinningherwitheyesthat

onlyspokethetruth,“I

thoughtaboutyou.Not

Karen.NotCora.You.”

Itfeltasifherheart

wasbeingawashedbythe

warmestwaters.Shiversof

hopefulpleasurerippled

downherspine.

“Butyoudon’twant

todealwith—”

“Withwhat?”Julian

asked.“WithGloria?With

Carlos?Withyourpastin

Mexico?Cora,I’veworked

hardtomakesurethere’s

nothingmoreinMexicothat

canharmyou.Andwhatyou

livedthroughwhilethere,

that’snothingtobeashamed

about.I’mamazedbyyou.

AndnowthatI’vefoundyou,

IhopeIcangiveyoualife

deservingofawomanas

strongasyou.”

Hemadeasweeping

gesturetowardsthetrees.

“You’relikethesetrees,

Cora.Treesarestrong.They

can’tbemoved.Theycan’t

bebroken.”

Cora’sheartskipped

abeat.

Amemorystreaked

throughhermind.

Sheremembereda

bruisedcheek.Acoolroof.

Andthestrong,securearms

oftheonlypersonwho

seemedtocareabouther.

“Whatdidyoudoat

schooltoday?Anythingfun?”

hehadasked,totakeher

mindoffthepainanddrama

ofthehouse.

“Idrewatree,”she

hadwhispered.

“Atree?Whatkind

oftree?”

“Abigone.Bigones

can’tbemoved.”

“Whydidyoudraw

abigtree?”hehadasked,

puzzled.

“Iwanttobeabig

tree,”shehadwhispered,

huggingherknobbyknees.

“IfIwasabigtree,Icouldn’t

bemoved.I’dgettostay

whereIwantedandwouldbe

toobigforsomeonetopush

me.”Shehadsqueezedher

eyesshut.“Iwanttobeabig

tree.”

Corafeltabreeze

rustlethroughtheforest,

gentlyshakingtheleaves

makingthemrustleand

whisperaboveher.

Somanyyearshad

passed.

Somuchpainhad

beenendured.

Somanytearshad

beenshed.

Andyet,Julianhad

plantedhishopesintheonly

placeholdingmemoriesof

her.

Lettingthehottears

streakdownhercheeks,she

fellintohisarms.“Iloveyou,

Julian.”

Nine

Corahadliftedher

lips,needingforhistouch.

Juliancapturedher

mouth,achingwiththesame

need.Hekissedherroughly,

nearlybruisingherlips.She

couldfeelhislovesearing

acrosshisbodylikealive

wire.Andforthefirsttimein

Cora’slife,sheletherself

meltintolove’swarm

embrace.

Assoonashefelt

hersubmittohisaching

demand,hisbodyignited.He

pulledawayandtookoffhis

shirt,layingitonthesoft

grass.Loweringherontothe

shirt,Juliantookherlips

again,plunginghistongue

deepintoher,capturingher

everybreath.

Coraranherhand

acrosshishardbody,feeling

thetightmusclesshiftand

moveasheheldher.She

couldfeelpassionandlove

meltintooneburningdesire

thatmadeherwholebody

feelasifitwasonfire.

Julianpulledupher

skirt,allowinghishandfree

accesstohergrowing

wetness.Hishandcuppedher

pussy,lettinghisheatonly

furtherherarousal.Slippinga

fingerbeneaththethin

panties,hestrokedafinger

hardagainstherswollen

pussy.

Coraarchedher

back,moaningloudly.The

treesrustledaroundher.She

feltcompletelysurroundedby

hislove.Shefeltheldand

pillowedbyhisstrength,his

power,hisheart.

Juliangentlybither

lowerlipashestrokedher

pussy.Coracouldfeelher

skintinglingaspleasure

rushedacrossher.Herbody

quicklyrosetothewave

Julianwascreatingwithin

her.

Forkinghisfingers,

hecapturedherswollenclit

andpinched.

Corathrewherback

andcriedoutinreleaseasa

quickandfastorgasmcaught

herbodycompletelyby

surprise.Butevenasher

nervesfiredpleasureshots

acrossherskin,herbody’s

appetiteonlyseemedtogrow

inneed.

Shethrewanarm

aroundJulian’sneck.“Ineed

tofeelyouinsideme,”she

whisperedthickly.“Ineed

youwithme.”

Juliangrowled

hearingherwords.Hisonly

passionignitedbeyond

bearable,heimmediately

grabbedherflimsypanties

andrippedthemaway.After

somanyyearsofsearching,

hehadneverthoughttofind

morethanagirlthatwould

needhisprotection.But

insteadhehadfounda

tenaciouslittlepixiewiththe

heartofalion.InCora,he

hadfoundhisforever.

Inonehardthrust,

Juliansheathedhimselftothe

rootinsideCora’swarmth.

Together,theygroanedatthe

satisfactiontheyfeltin

joining.Slowly,Julianpulled

out,lettingeveryinchofhis

cockslideagainstCora’s

tightness.

Heplungedbackin,

makingCoramoanagainst

hisear.

Helookeddownat

thepixiewhohadstolenhis

heart.Shelookedintohis

eyes,tearswettingherlashes.

“Iloveyou,Cora,”hesaid,

hisvoiceharshwithemotion.

Coranodded,tears

fallingdownhercheeks.

Julianthrustin

again,knowingtheirpleasure

wasjustaroundthecorner.

Hethrustagain,lovingthe

wayCoraarchedbeneath

him.

Hecapturedherlips

again,tastinghersweetness.

“Marryme,”he

whisperedagainstherlips.

Thetreesrustled

loudlyaroundthem.The

breezeblewwarmlyover

theirjoinedbodies.Cora

neverfeltsoright,sosettled.

Sohome.

“Yes,”shesaid,

unabletostoptearily

grinning.“Yes!”

Julianhadnever

kissedsomeonewhilesmiling

buthecouldn’tstop.Helet

theirbodiesridetheirnatural

wave,lettingeachplunge

bringthemclosertoeach

other.

FinallyJuliangave

onehardfinalthrust,making

bothofthemcryoutin

releaseastheyfelttheir

bodiesspillintoeachother,

makingtheothermore

completethantheyhadever

felt.

Foreheadsresting

againsteachother,they

quietlybreathedastheytried

toregaintheircenter.

HoldingCoratightly,

Julianrolledontohisside,

takingherwithhim.He

kissedthespacebehindher

earandsmiledashefelther

shiverinresponse.Theylaid

togetherasthetreescovered

themintheirdappledshade.

Nomorewordswere

necessary.

Thewhisperofthe

treessaiditall.

Iloveyou.

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