fuzzy, the expensive cologne from last night still faintly clinging to the threads of my charcoal suit, which lay discarded on the floor. I had

y cold, demanding

hot and bitter, to scour the lingering shame and the unwanted thrill from my memory. I went thr

a text message. A knot tightened in my stomach. It was an unfamiliar number, but my heart ins

't them. It

v dinner kill you? Did you meet the hands

ha. Normalcy. A lifeline. I answered instantly, needing

wn voice soun

locked you in a vault. How was the family dinner? Did you survive the formal in

. overwhelming. Exactly as terrifying as them, actually. Arthur

ou use the dark fire in your eye

Very Volkov." I desperately wanted to tell her everything. I wanted to scream, I met the twins! One of t

here? Are they identical? Are they hot and

. "They were present," I said, trying to keep my tone neutral, professional. "Yes, they are twins. Very successful, ver

that family structure, Leo. Maybe flirt with

lkovs is entirely nuclear-grade, Sasha. I'm sticking to my studio and kee

tantly ran cold. The phone was still on the counter, and I cou

image of the black keycard-sleek, metallic

. Something just came up. A delivery, actually. Ver

Sotheby's send you a miniature ya

embling as I reached for the phone. I didn't car

t was from a new, unfamiliar number. But

HT. 2

thouse. You k

estions, just a command stamped with the authority of wealth and malice. 21:00. Nine o'c

use. I didn't know the building well, but the phrase itself screamed exclusivity a

t. I w

all, erase the evidence of their contact. But the immedia

nd horrified, flashed in my mind. The ruined wedding, the public scandal, the end

now the only thing holding me to thei

and the crushing weight of the Volkov name. The internal debate was over before it began. I had to go

**

t every brushstroke felt hollow. I was living on borrowed time, counting down the minutes

e, non-confrontational clothes a dark sweater, black trousers, anything that wo

catching my reflection in the dark glass. I

r's peace. I will pay the p

ender, I stepped out, found a cab, an

**

As the cab pulled up to the glittering monolith, I f

he security officer the code I had only just memorized, the code from the keycard ima

the familiar social floor. They opened onto a floor Leo had never seen. This was a pr

d the bronze door, my footsteps making no sound. I lifted my hand to knock, but before my kn

t, cold glow of the Manhattan lights. It was a m

w voice commanded, immediat

catching. They hadn't b

ng. Ivan was beside him, leaning against the wall, his arms crossed, a soft

mooth and devoid of human warmth. "We don't enjoy delay, Leo.

e of Dmitri to the smooth, controlled wa

g onto mine with cold, absolute intent. "L