scharged thre

reaming that this was dangerous. His penthouse felt colder t

shallow, fingers gripping her like sh

ights again," he

m tighter.

rept into Se

. Once, she found her door unlocked when she was sure she'd closed

ticed her

ed," he said

er head. "J

eve her. He al

w, watching the city glow beneath her

ched th

darkness, a cam

an planning t

n't sleep

sed to quiet. The penthouse felt too large, too silent, as if the walls we

k and stared out at the city that never really cared who survived it. This was supposed to b

hone

Number:

gers we

een, heart thudding.

: Who

isappeared. Then anoth

congratulations. He always

conversation, but

forced a smile. "You

ure you're rea

or her hand.

then shook he

ike that answer

led. His parents had been too bus

ing room, voice low with suppressed Anger and t

ows," h

ws w

what she's capable of." He stopped in front of Sel

umorless laugh. "T

ser

id softly. "I won't

lready curling

e finished her shift

epped outside, apron folded over her arm. T

hone

st

rds my direction so I have to walk down to the next stop, sor

n those streets alone. I'm on my

nning the road. "You worry t

three ste

bbed her f

ound as a cloth pressed over her mouth. She struggled with

nds blurring, lights

heard was a woman's

nal

hest seize with a fear he couldn't explain. He got

e out there

restaurant in und

across Darling Harbour like the rules didn't apply to him anymore. His

e?" he

looked up,

the manager said. "A

chest t

ng. Too still. His eyes scanned

ph

down near

ped straight i

cked. Her last call was his number.

ouder this time. Panic cl

espo

UV eased into traffic and disap

..........

restaurant for a full minute,

he battery was almost dead. O

leave this,"

s understanding settl

n't wal

had ta

traight to

ng warmly, as if nothing in the world had gone wrong. The irony m

ne," he said, his voi

er looked up

le

tin said slowly

teacup dow

pped. "Did you know

"Do not raise your

, broken. "My fi

grandmother replied calmly. "Som

at her. "What

u're exhausted. You're imagining thin

on," he said. "She's rea

held his gaze. "

old settled

n't sur

nding head and ropes b

ater. A foghorn sounded in the distance.

f her, her heels immacula

ur parents died?" D

s, then she muttered. "It was an a

"That's what t

ook her h

en built a company together. Best friends.

caught. She look

s father wanted power. Offshore accounts. Arms routing throu

t's

iana said softly. "He walked away. He planned to

voice bro

ports were adjusted. They caused the brake failure, they pl

kly. "You expect m

urself why Austin's family n

s heart

asn't

n't nonsen

car overlooking the Harbour Bridge, stari

rst time,

his family h

nne so obsesse