rand ballroom didn't just ope

elite guests, every conversation dying on the tongues of billionaires and high-profile icons. He stood at the threshold, a striki

, and the sheer fakeness of it always stirred a dark, simmering irritation deep in his chest.

ed toward an isolated table in the VIP section. A waitress appeared almost instan

ses and heiresses huddled together, their eyes

handsome. Why is

d give anything to spend

all, staring cold

she made her way directly to his table. Sitting down beside him, she cast a possessive gl

Victoria asked, her voi

ice a flat, unreadable rumble. "

ed back to the corridor to the memory of Lowin looking down at that fragile woman in th

rare public appearance of the Vance Empire's head. One of them cleared his throat, offering a pra

N

is drink. The brutal finality in his tone sent a shockwave through the men,

ddenly, the phone in his breast pocket buzzed against his chest. He pulled

utch, nodding smoothly. "Sure, go ahe

and stepped away into the

hting, approaching Lowin's untouched glass with practiced ease. With a swift, imperceptible movement, a

k into the masses, pull

n]: It'

opped up a s

ood. I'll ha

taken had left him visibly furious, his jaw clenched tight enough to crack. Needing to dull the irritat

sweep the room, looking for Victoria. Instead, h

he woman from

. Lowin watched as a handsome young heir approached her, offering his hand for a dance. She turned him down with a polite,

ought, a low murmur v

te for a sliver of public status. But this girl wasn't looking for a spotlight. He could te

s sister, Annah Vance. He couldn't hear their voices over the roar of the crowd, but seeing his notori

-

the atmosphere was

ul to hide in a dark corner all night. Mind if I sit? "A

he warmth radiating from the s

r hand. "And yes, I've been watching you for the last twenty minutes. T

'd been holding since she arrived. "Tell

fect tailoring of Amilah's gown, h

ne in my closet immediately. Would you mind sharing

Amilah's face. "Thank you. I actu

'm an actress and I do some modeling on the side. Next week I have a major

the break she had been praying for. "Really? If you want it, I can work day and

embossed business card from her bag and sliding it across the

whispered, clutching the car

in her clutch. Seeing the caller ID, she offered an apolog

ind you later," Annah wave

-

he temperature in Lowin'

d his teeth, pulling off his tailored suit jacket and throwing it over the chair, but the relief never

buzzed on

you in the VIP suite upstair

s he forced himself to stand, a third wave of heat ripped t

corridor. The increased uncontrollable heat in his lower abdomen instantly made

ed his jaw so hard, his fist flying out to punch the concrete wall b

d he was not going to let whoever did this see him weak, let alone force hi

scipline, he stumbled into the quiet, dimly lit

aning against the wall, her ph

"I literally just landed a major client for my collection. I'm going to fly out

you," her mother's voice echoed softly from th

ng. I'll call you

from behind her, shatterin

rom earlier. But the quiet authority he had radiated was gone, replaced by something wild and dangerous. He looked i

ging up before her mother could answer. She rushed to his side, her ins

nstantly locking onto her face. Even through the dru

a gravelly, broken shell of its f

essed, stepping closer. "You can

nd his waist, trying to brace his weight. The moment her skin made c

out through shattered teeth

bbornness flaring as she stepped right back into his s

est heaving as the toxin demanded his surrende

t let me leave you in a hallwa

determined, and firmly wrapped

fever tearing through his blood surged to the absolute edge, threatening to break his control completely. He bit his inner chee

win commanded, his voice dark and

iding his heavy frame tow

nto him, and Lowin's primal instincts were screaming at him to pin her against the elevator wall and devour her. He fought his own mind with everything he had.

out onto the concrete of the underground g

parking lot, but the black Maybach was n

e. Before he could stop her, her processing lines flew acr

e. It rang continuously until it went to voicemail. He cursed under his breath, a dark, lethal sound. som

his blood was reaching a boiling point, and the

ide him. "You can go back insi

u until I get you to a hospital," Amilah sai

hest. Why wouldn't this girl just run? Didn

ce in his eyes, Amilah instinctively backed up, her heels clicking agai

r. His bloody fist flew out, slamming into the concre

hovering just inches from hers, his b

s skin. He was sweating profusely, his chest rising and falling violently. Looking at his strained collar, Amilah's hand mo

His eyes went entirely pitch-black with a dark, consuming desire. Her soft, pink lips were parted, complet

t was a sensation she had never experienced in her life,

ssed a hand over her own chest, trying to quiet her heart. "Is you

ckle, the sound dark and intim

hem. Lowin pulled back, the sudden loss of her touch making him groan. Amilah qui

nearest hospital," Amilah

ot out, his fingers clamping around Amilah's wrist w

medical pr

his dark eyes locking onto hers with absolute autho

d, turning back to the dr

in ground out, leaning his

ed a cold shower, but the woman sitting mere inches away was making everything infinitely worse. The high slit of her gown had ridden up, exposing her pale

better option right now," Amilah whispe

e cutting through the darkness of the car. Amil

e perimeter, Lowin had to roll down the window, his voice harsh and strained as he commanded the guard to open the gates. The car dro

paying the driver before the cab sped

her, his breathing ragged. "H

you're inside," Amilah said, her voi

ed, trying to steady himself

sure you're safely

with no choice, he let her guide him through the grand entrance and into the

e a second. "Where

ce. Amilah ran into the room, returning moments later with a glass basin

in the freezing water, she wrung it out and lifted her hands to pre

dark eyes boring into hers. "W

pull her hands free but failing. "The cold water will

eyes down to her soft lips. "That won't help." He paused, his vo

behind his words. "But sir, I'm already helping you. And

the danger she was in. "I was drugged, little bird," he whispered, leaning his upper body forward until h

d down, and her eyes flew wide open as she noticed the heavy, un

all at once: she hadn't just helped a sick man. She

and tried to crawl backward on the floor

owly, his towering frame casting a massive s

romise. He looked down into her eyes, watching the sudden, beautiful flash of fe

nd behind her, trapping her entirely. She coul

nd her waist. With effortless strength, he lifted her off

inch. He was a wall of pure muscle and consuming heat. Lowin raised his hand, his long fingers

s dark breath sending a shiver straight down her spin