Kane guided Aria into a private lounge off the main hallway. He sat her down on a velvet sofa and handed her a bottle of water.
"Drink," he said.
Aria took a sip. Her hands were shaking.
The door to the lounge banged open. It hit the wall with a crack that sounded like a gunshot.
Victoria Sloan marched in. Jordan's mother. The matriarch of the Sloan empire. She was followed by Tiffany, Jordan's sister.
Victoria's face was a mask of fury. Her makeup was perfect, but her eyes were wild.
"You little bitch!" she screamed.
She crossed the room in three strides. "Do you have any idea what you've done? Our stock is in freefall!"
Tiffany lunged for the tablet in Aria's lap. "Give me that! You recorded it illegally!"
Aria twisted her body, shielding the device. "It was a live feed from the hotel security. I didn't record anything. The internet did."
Victoria raised her hand. Her palm was open, fingers rigid. She swung at Aria's face.
Aria flinched, bracing for the impact.
It never came.
Kane stepped out of the shadows. He didn't grab her. He didn't shove her. He just stepped between them. He stood there, a wall of muscle and menace.
Victoria's hand stopped inches from his chest. She looked up at him, startled.
"Get out of my way, you useless kept man," she spat.
Kane didn't blink. He looked down at her like she was a stain on the carpet.
Aria stood up. She reached around Kane and grabbed Victoria's wrist. She squeezed. Hard.
"This isn't your country club, Victoria," Aria said. "This is a crime scene. Your son committed fraud."
"Fraud?" Victoria laughed, a harsh, barking sound. "He cheated. Men cheat. You'll get over it."
"He signed a contract stating he was not involved in any actions that would damage the company reputation while negotiating the deal. He lied. That's fraud. Federal fraud."
Victoria's face went pale. She knew the law. She knew what an SEC investigation would do to them.
"You're just frigid," Tiffany sneered from behind her mother. "That's why he went to Chloe. Jordan has needs. He said you were like sleeping with a mannequin."
Aria laughed. It was a cold, dark sound.
"If his performance issues are my fault," Aria said, looking Tiffany dead in the eye, "then why did he only last three minutes with Chloe? I timed it."
Tiffany's mouth dropped open.
Victoria signaled to the two large men in suits waiting in the hallway. "Get him out of here. And grab her."
The bodyguards stepped forward.
Kane walked to the door. He slammed it shut in their faces. He turned the lock.
Then he turned back to the room. He unbuttoned his suit jacket.
"You're locked in here with me," Kane said. His voice was low, terrifyingly calm.
Victoria took a step back. "Who is this animal? Where did you find him?"
Aria walked up to Kane. She put her hand on his arm. It was rock hard.
"This is my husband," Aria said. "And he's more of a man than your son will ever be."
Victoria was shaking now. Rage and fear warring in her eyes. "I will freeze every asset you have. You won't be able to buy a pack of gum."
"Try it," Aria said. "I'll drive your stock price so low you'll be delisted by Tuesday."
"Move," Aria said to Victoria.
Aria shoulder-checked her as she walked past. Kane opened the door, checked the hall, and ushered her out.
As soon as they were clear, in the service corridor, the strength left Aria's legs again. She grabbed Kane's arm to stay upright. Cold sweat was running down her back.
"Hospital?" Kane asked. He was supporting Aria's entire weight now.
"No," Aria whispered. "Dr. Evans. The private toxicologist. Upper East Side."
Kane's head snapped toward Aria. His eyes narrowed. He didn't ask questions. He didn't waste time.
"Hold on," he said.
He scooped Aria up. He carried her through the kitchen, ignoring the staring chefs. They burst out into the alley where the car was waiting.
Victoria's screams echoed down the hallway behind them. "Aria! You'll pay for this!"
Kane dumped Aria in the passenger seat and slammed the door. He vaulted over the hood and slid behind the wheel.
The engine roared.
