pte

erpent in

lightning behind the hills, but i

still as ever, watched everything with a single, hawk-like eye after Forlan disengaged and murmured something about "contingency shares." Then Samuel,

him too long. "

he moment. The board was heating. But he wasn

e. "He's baiting her. Don'

do you

He tapped his eyepatch. "Los

solve, but the players were now aware of

whisper at midnight-he returned home with stories no one dared ask about. In the Special Forces, he was called "the snake." Not for treachery, but

eous, calculating-and indifferent until it mattered. But beneath the soldier's mask lived a m

tage name was "Velvet," and when she sang, the room forgot its sins. She dance

ed. She'd been singing "Summertime" barefoot, drenched in red light, when he recogn

ia's curves, which could tame any man. Nor did she try. She loved him for his brokenness, the way he stared in

formed integrity in motion. She met him on a drug sweep. He'd co

nfessions that danced too close to promises. He'd ask about her songs; she'd ask if he be

course he knew. S

rms, lashes wet with sweat and music. He whispere

tead, she kissed him wi

is Special Ops scarf; she once handcuffed him to a radiator and made him listen to her sing for an hour before touching him. The game, or finding a balance between power and pleasure, was always more important than

ings always returned fo

th. Rain had washed the night clean, but

d is heating. Knight might burn the Queen. Fred was the knight,

focus shifted to the shadows. Kelvin hadn't texted

e at the stage. He looked for the dressing ro

ze mid-spin. The music kept

across from Forlan. "He's back," Ke

his jaw clenched

eces were moving. But no one noticed the real tension the kind that wasn't s