Leonard gave a thin, amused smile. "Well, I suppose that''s not a bad idea after all."


    Sellers kept his gaze fixed on Abby, his mind quietly calcting the cruellest ways he might break her down.


    With both Leonard and Sellers staring at her, Abby felt as though two venomous snakes were sizing her up, their cold eyes making her skin crawl and her teeth chatter uncontrobly. Terror had seeped into her bones.


    She forced herself to stand her ground. "I—if that''s how it is, then let Star go... She''s innocent! She hasn''t done anything!"


    Leonard looked her over with an almost yful interest. "So brave, aren''t you? I wonder if you''ll still be this brave in a few minutes."


    His voice turned cold. "Bring them in."


    Sellers nced at Leonard, a frown knitting his brow. He hadn''t even settled on a method to torment Abby, and Leonard was already moving things forward. Was this supposed to be the clever solution?


    It was clear now-Leonard hadn''t summoned him here to act as the executioner.


    He just wanted to drag him into the mess, make himplicit.


    With Ste, perhaps Leonard would tread carefully. But Abby? She barely registered on his radar.


    As Sellers mulled it over, the door opened, and Leonard''s men arrived.


    Even Sellers, who''d seen more than his share of depravity, paused in surprise at the sight.


    A group of men entered a rough headcount put the number at ten. They ranged in age from young adults to men well into their forties, a spectrum of appearances and builds: some handsome, some forgettable, and more than a few outright unpleasant to look at.


    Sellers shot Leonard a questioning look, not understanding the purpose of this exercise.


    Leonard ignored him and turned instead to Abby. "Ms. Murphy, didn''t you volunteer to take your friend''s punishment? Step up, then."


    Abby''s eyes went wide, her body instinctively curling in on itself. "What... what are you going to do?"


    Leonard smiled, cold and unhurried. "What do you think men do to women, Ms. Murphy?"


    He shrugged. "If you''re not up for it, I won''t force you. I''m sure Ste would be willing."


    Abby opened her mouth to protest, but Ste spoke first, her voice sharp and clear. "That''s right. I''ll do it." She met Leonard''s icy stare, unwavering. "The question is, Mr. Lermando you dare?"


    Leonard''s gaze flicked to her, intrigued. "Ms. Cameron, are you just trying to y the martyr for your friend, or are you really so sure I wouldn''t darey a finger on you?"


    Ste''s face was bloodless, but her eyes shone, dark and unyielding. Though her words were for Abby, her gaze burned into Leonard.


    "Abby, don''t let his threats get to


    you. If anything happens, just me


    it on me. He''s nothing but a rat skulking in the shadows-too cowardly for open revenge, so he resorts to these little games don''t believe for a second he''d actually touch me."


    A strange smile curved her lips. "He might have ruined Nocturne Ste, but he wouldn''t dare ruin me. If he did, his little reign as head of the Lerman family would be over in a heartbeat."


    Leonard''s eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable. "Oh? nning to have Haynes and the others avenge you?"


    Ste retorted, "Mr. Lerman, why is it always about men with you? If I didn''t know you were hopelessly in love with Aurora, I''d start to question your preferences."


    Sellers couldn''t help but nce sideways at her. For a woman staring down her own executioner, she was remarkably brazen—provoking Leonard at the very edge of the abyss.


    But was she doing this to buy Abby time, or did she truly believe she was untouchable?


    Ste continued, her voice steady and mocking, "Relying on men, relying on women-it''s always leaning on someone else. Nothing beats having power in your own hands. Mr. Lerman, surely you know I hold the original shares in the Williams Group? Next month, those shares be mine to control."