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Under his gaze, with a slow and deliberate motion, the brunette beside him grips the railing and carefully leans back. Aiden's first instinct was to step closer, but the girl's raspy voice stopped him.

"You'd be surprised how often I do this, sir."

Sensing she had startled him, and perhaps even disturbed him, she added the explanation she knew he needed:

"Surely you've had moments in your life when you wished everything would just end," she said, closing her eyes and leaning back a little further. "When I do this, I realize that I don't want to die."

The man rested his elbows on the railing and let out a long sigh. She was the first woman in his life he couldn't understand or see through.

A unique and complex character, but damn beautiful.

"Remind me once again, for the fourth time now, how you passed the psychological evaluation, Miss Joy?"

The profound silence between them had become uncomfortable. Aiden felt he should rephrase the question, soften it somehow. For the first time since he'd met her, he felt he'd crossed a line.

"Mr. Black," she finally said with a sigh, "when I do this, I realize that I want to live and be happy."

Aiden turned his head slightly toward her. Something in his gaze had changed, and Tatum noticed. That's why she casually added:

"As for the psychological exams," she chuckled, letting go of the railing, "be assured that I don't have that much cash lying around just to pass them all, only to protect your ass."

The man's chuckle put her at ease.

She didn't need anyone's pity.

Table of You called

Table of contents

Volume 1