on's

===

urred past. Manhattan at night was a glittering beast-sharp edges, bri

for a courtroom instead of a dinner conversation. I didn't need to reread it. Ev

rt. One year. N

she was playing a role in a game far bigger than her ga

biting against my skin and inside, the elevator hummed softly as it carried me to the

city lights as I leaned against the floor-to-ceiling windows. The gallery

the year, or los

lways been a puppet master, even from beyond t

ing the box on my father's will and securing my family

lery wasn't just a struggling business; it was a key and my sources had confirmed it-h

hat had cost h

my father's obsession with the artifact which ruined everything-our family, our b

She'd get her debts cleared, her gallery funded, and a year of pretending to be

lem-a small, fiery,

Sophia Har

d desperation, gratitude, even a little awe. Instead,

mayb

posed to be easy to manipulate-vulnerable, drowning in debt, clinging to her father's dream. But there was som

.. irri

air as my phone buzzed on the table, and I glanced at the

r. Someone else is looking for it." The message read. And

arger puzzle. One that had people willing to kill to solve it. The st

righ

===

lly risen. The sleek glass and steel of the Blackwood Enterprises hea

Instead, I pulled up the security footage from the gallery, scanning

after I'd left. She looked... haunted. Her fingers brushed

rself, though I could

ne who claimed not to need help, she looked like she was carrying the wei

hout knocking-a luxury only he was allowed to have. Then, he

he said. "The artifact

and documents inside and I saw blueprints of the gallery, inventory list

he risk?"

t least two other parties interested in the art

my mind

I said finally,

tated. "An

's the key. Nothing happ

s expression rema

t evening, I'd made up my mind that Sophia d

, but one I couldn'

counter, her face buried in a stack of papers. And suddenly, s

he said, cross

asked, letting a sm

melted steel. "What d

here to remind you that your time is run

re was a flicker of

e said, though her voi

my tone softening slightly. "But you do need

nt, I thought she might throw me

ng me?" she asked, her

to reveal. Finally, I said, "Trust

y. "You really thin

itted. "But

a moment, and I thought I saw

I said, stepping back

full well that my plans to achi