of black glass, a void that seem

lo Hol

. It looked like a fortress d

the sheer scale of the space making me

ad answered. He hadn't asked who I was; he ha

canned my bag, patted me down, and checked my

or ride that was silent and unnervingly fast

wealth, costing more than m

arp, dressed in a grey suit, with p

The Cons

ssini,"

t offer

are p

squaring my shoulders

suit," I said, hating the slight tremor in

He looked amused, but the

ll coffee on the Don, and you think

eath, groun

age problem. The shipping contracts, the union disputes.

dry, humorless sound that

he said dismissively. "We do not need your he

his desk, dismis

for the cleaning bill w

was over before

the elevat

g her

t was the same deep, vibrating rumble I had heard in

eo f

t me. His expression shifted inst

see you," he said

of double doors a

into the l

in shadows. The curtains were dr

n't wearing a suit jacket today. His white shirt was roll

leaning

e barrel with a white cloth, his movements

" he

ite him. It was low, sinking dow

wer

t I silence y

lly loo

ired, but they burned

peace. You disresp

of the chair, my kn

can be usef

he metal clicked sharply against

," he r

t like he was peeling back my skin

a story,

," I

know the mons

e truth,"

fying, handsome expression

world, Elena," he said

he window, staring out at t

ou your interv

leaped.

is a price,

adows fell across his face,

s to my life? Y

his face was inches from mine, his scent of ex

you have to