e took out his vape from his pocket and

of nowhere

ither. His thumb pressed lightly at her pulse. Her heart thu

fear take

ftly, darkly. "I could destroy everyth

hen maybe I'm exactly w

ove and this entire mission could collapse. On

didn't k

reath hot. "You've got one chance

'm not?"

ck, slowly, e

aid with a smirk and

car, her heels hitting the pavement in slow, precise clicks. The city never really slept,

asn't Clu

s per

vitat

gua

cro

d the devil

e, wrought iron, and wealth buried in blood. It sat at the edg

ked in

eted her with a nod, then wordlessly led her through

n-there

d danger stitched into every line of his body. He stood by a fireplace that burne

ame,"

ed," she

ilence for a beat.

N

d. "Control or

pping just short of his r

nough to let her know she was amusin

d, sipping his drink, "

invit

ed. "But you did

Maybe I wanted to see if the

d his hea

ot what I

ppoin

t y

and dangerous. "You know, m

eed someone

nd. His smirk faded just en

ere

urio

even r

ike you," he

on't k

t y

ward. It was thick with tension. With something unsp

said, tur

bookshelves and old paintings. He led he

uring to the room. "Where I plan. Wher

pulse quickening

ll your girls h

bring any

ook at him surpri

you don't flinch when I speak about death. Because y

oat tig

ear in her heartbea

easy," she wh

a strand of hair away from her face. The motion

in silk," he said. "Be

ed hard. "You

, to her dress, to her curvy body

locked

ghts while admiring

dangerous but at the same time

was the dangerous, ruthless Sa

e blink o

isse

ng. No h

t like he'd been there before in another life. She kissed h

t smart," s

oice husky. "But i

This was wrong. R

ldn't w

ed again, voice q

ry wall she'd ever built. "Because you don't belong in th

his pho

oked

t crossed his face

m?" she

wer. He just l

o," he said.

ing the distance return.

I don't find out who

he

n's den-with her lips still burning from th

ng else and was the mission being compromi