nner glass wall into the main medical suite. The room was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from the eerie blue glow of medical monitors st

g heart to slow. Assess. Don't just react.

opaque breathing mask covered the lower half of the face. Sterling Carlisle, she assumed. Her dying husband. The man she had jus

tself from the far

steadied her. A tall man stepped into the dim blue light, wearing a tailored charcoal suit that fit his broad shoulders pe

sie asked, keepin

e was deep, a low rumble laced with unmistakable h

the name. Axel Stone. Not Carlisle. Proxy, n

s head. "I'm here to monitor the new ass

d, letting a calculated spark o

de no sound on the sterile floor. "In this house, you are nothing but

way from the insult, away from the instinct to scream her father's innocence. Her trembling hands stilled, and she cons

She watched him for a reaction, any tell. "Giv

, his expression a mask. "Until you prove

ued, her voice rising just enough to push him

ures. "I don't trust anyone else's security checks. Espec

tructure with cracks. This was intel, and she filed it away instantly. Not all the Carlisles were on

Elsie's spine pressed harder against the cold glass. There was nowhere

ould feel the heat radiating off his body, smell the faint scent of

nds, his gaze locking onto he

ping to a lethal octave. "I check for sub-dermal bio-implants and m

aranoid one. The one who sees enemies everywhere. She could

, lock me in whatever cage you want. But every second you waste treating me li