ed a note on the chart, and walked out of the pr

ead silence. Only Carl

leaving his skin pale and tight. An IV line dripped clear fluid into the back of his hand. Despi

a low, raspy command that left no room for argu

ead, she kept her head bowed. She shuffled her sensible shoes across the linoleum floor, moving inches at a time until

arlisle's h

ike a steel vice. The grip was brutal. Chloe

e and pitched over the side of the bed. Her face stopped mere inches fr

terrifying intensity. His gaze burned thro

her jawline. He mapped the e

the delicate curve of her neck until they found a tiny, distinct faintly raised mole hid

nt jolt of electricity ripped through his ch

eathed out. The name

ain. The facade was cracking

his grip with all her strength and threw herself backward. She crashed ont

th genuine adrenaline, masking her fear of discovery with t

st, staring at him with wide, h

gray suit, her messy bun, and the sheer terror in her eyes. The intense fa

lergic reaction and the adrenaline drugs must be messing with his brain. He w

the bed. He masked his frust

his tone flat. "Go pour m

ter dispenser in the corner. As she turned her back to him, she exhaled a long,

ack to the bed and handed it to him, holding the cup

ever left her face. The nagging sense of famili

n. Miller walked i

. We are spinning it as minor exhaustion," Miller re

, silencing his assista

ordered coldly. "I left my iPad

She practically ran out of the roo

's expression turned lethal. He gestur

whisper. "I want a full, deep-dive backg

surprise. "The n

t second. I want her financial records, her medical history, and her exac

in his boss's eyes. He nodde

was not completely sealed. Through the millimeter gap, the w

s turne

ket. She typed a rapid, encrypted mess

rce the firewall. Bury the origin data u

an the long walk down the hallway to the elevators. She did not

polished metal doors of the elevat

, Carlisle? You will only fi

she saw Miller approaching from the hallway, already typing fu

curtly and walked past her. She stepped into the elev