TER

A VO

sip of my wine and set the glass down, hyperaware of every movement, every gesture

ien observed. Not accus

uld be nervous. "I'm not usually good at fir

one I

Same here. But I actually wanted to meet you. I've thought about you all the time since we started

s, despite the scam, despite knowing this was supposed to be pure

I said softly, and it

atisfaction? Pride? But it was go

we're on the

ked for, some kind of fish, I thought. My mind was too busy analyzing

osen. He asked about my work, my dreams, my favorite books, all the conversati

tly vulnerable, grateful for his attention. It

feel differe

reached into his jacket a

hundred thousand euros, as promised. I've already had my lawy

al

Inside were official-looking documents and a cer

dred thou

F for

saw something in his expression that made my

gnit

ed to make a move quickly. Disap

" he asked, his voic

his is... this is incredibly

reach his eyes. "After all, what's mine is

said it made the hair on th

v, time up.

was real. The

x. I was being paranoid. This was just a normal dinner with a l

of here, cash the check

ht now, it was like Damien Romanov had no

and raspberry coulis. But I barely tasted it. Every cell in m

y me sto

nd something about his gaze made it impossible to

ing down his fork. "You have seco

u

all. I'm just...overwhelmed.

e. "You've been with me for these past few months. Been there. Listening. Understanding a l

not the time to feel guilty. Not now. Not when my f

" The foolish, stupid

satisfied. "Good. Becau

quickened

e view from my place, it's quite spectacular. And we can discuss the

l in my head we

o to a target's home. Alw

tain an exi