aring a last meal for a condemned woman. Her hands shook as she plated the Coq au Vin, the rich, h

ing too high, and the shadows too long. To calm him, she had whispered that they were playing a "spy game

e gravity of Silas Vane's presence pul

.

ered suitcase, her knuckles white. "Okay, L

ht chess piece like a talisman, gave her a determined thumbs-up. "I'm

her heart hammering against

rds sounded like a gunshot in the oppressive silence of the mansion. They slipped out of the heavy side door, a

freedom amidst a sea of black European saloons. She reached for the doo

ic

headlights flashed twice, slicing through the mist and illumi

rt unbuttoned at the throat, the sleeves rolled up to reveal forearms that were far too distrac

phantom watch on his wrist. "The soufflé

ved Leo behind her, a primal instinct taking over. "I-the kitch

oot-tall 'ninja' peeking out from behind her legs. "And does the plumber

s small arms over his chest in a gesture that was a h

n tilted at the exact same angle as the billionaire's. "This

' looked genuinely speechless. He looked down at the boy-the same unruly dark curls, t

ed, the words sounding foreign

had the upper hand. "Mommy says we can't afford the b

spect crossed his face as he looked back at Elara. "Hei

napped, grabbing Leo's hand and trying to p

catching them with effortless, predatory grace. "The gates are locked. The security

p us here! Tha

ent-cedarwood and the sharp cold of the Sound-drowned out the smell of her car's old

k at. "If I get you a 'big box' of nuggets-and perhaps a professional-grade telescope for the third

perched high on the glass-walled balcony. Then he looke

he rings of Saturn?" Leo

neighbours' darkest secrets," Silas replied, h

olemn logic. "Mommy, the ninja mission is on hol

d. "Betrayed by a four-year-old for processed c

glint. "He knows a winning hand when he sees one. Now, inside. Both of you. We have a contract to di