iana

leared out. The cleaning crews moved like phantoms d

ad taken me four hours of rigorous auditing, but I had found it: an intentional, systemic misrepresentation of logistical sup

port to an encrypted

es. I had to wait until the contract was locked, until the Blackwater pack signed the persona

ustion settling into my b

ecutive elevators. I tapped my badge against the card reader. Instea

ign Clearance. Levels

thorization was supposed to be

levator ceiling. I knew instantly who had authorized the upgrade. Caden. He wasn't

ked out into the chilly night air, and returned to m

h floor, the comforting aroma of rich beef brot

er, was Caden Sinclair. He was dressed down in a charcoal cashmere sweater and dark jeans, holding a b

my hand. "Do you spend your evenings loiteri

y carving his handsome features into sharp relief. "Only w

you subsist on rare beef pho when

consulted my assistant, traveled down to a grimy street in Chinatown, and stood in a drafty hallway with

ya?" I asked, un

s her useful," Caden said smoothly, steppi

practiced ease. The apartment, with its crowded bookshelves, vintage drafti

brief, sharp spark of electricity leaped between our skin-the undeniable pull of the binding covenant we had seal

ckwater's tender," Caden remarked, ta

fway to the bowl. "You moni

abe Black is an amateur playing with borrowed chips. You found the fuel subsidy d

lies on intimidation and pack hierarchy to cover his inadequacie

searching mine with unnerving intensity. "What do

have my mind. True power isn't granted by an old man with a family trust, Caden.

g ancient and deeply approving flaring in his

h Gabe, dinner had always been a performance-managing his ego, soothing his ins

bowl in my small porcelain sink, dri

ed out, his thumb gently grazing the soft skin of my jawline. The to

eets tomorrow to finalize the Apex acquisition. When y

he night, the lock cl

, booted up my encrypted drive, and initiated a private transfer from my primary

egal war over my estate. But he didn't