e clouds look lik

of her wrist. She was currently a human balancing act, juggling a heavy

t were a piercing, familiar shade of smoke-grey. Every time he looked up at

Elara joked, ushering him into t

five years, this had been their sanctuary. Elara had changed her name, her hair colour, and her entire history

. When an anonymous headhunter reached out after seeing her modest food blog, offering a position for

.' It promised a six-figure salary, a private wing for her and her

him into his faded dinosaur sheets. "Back to the city. But it wi

ht thick-rimmed glasses that obscured the shape of her face. She wasn't the golden

Estate,

han a home. Elara's stomach churned as the taxi navigated the long, winding driveway. The house was a masterpiece

d flat against the tinted window. "It

ic rhythm against her ribs. Something about the architecture felt... oppressive

able. You'll be staying in the staff wing. The client is a very private man. He expects

's. "I just... I didn't catch the name of the employer

fly, her heels clicking rhythmically on the marble flo

closing in. The scent hit her first-the unmistakable, heady cockta

n't be. Seattle is a city of million

rs of the grand study swung

ts axis, the floor beneath her sen

ane ste

pened the lethal, aristocratic edges of his face. He was on his phone, his

mpetitor and gut them. I want their assets liqui

gaze drifted toward the hallw

tlight, her cheap disguise feeling like paper-thin armour. Silas lowered his phone, his smoke-gre

den. And the door had

e dropping to a dangerous, silky

. This is Ela

head, his eyes narrowing behind a mask of icy indifference t

iliar name. And

choke out, her heart hammering so hard she was ce

y for her ears, his breath warm against her temple. "I have a very

, she heard a small, high-pitched v

chess piece! It was

knight aloft. He stopped right in front of Silas Vane, his

wn at the boy. The boy who had his exact, stubborn jawline. The bo

e words weren't a question; they w

o's hand. "That's a Sicilian opening piece," Silas said, his voice dropp

s ground with a look of pure, stubborn defianc

ng its edge. She stepped in front of Leo, physic

smile that promised he was about to tear her c

t, Elara. Don't be late. We have... much