ding and into the brisk evenin

age lit up

ks between y

glittering skyline that stretched above her. There were so many things she wis

*

e, the family dinner wa

neath the flicker of candlelight, and the roast sat in the center like a sacrificial offerin

le like he'd been born into the role back straight, expression blank, jaw ti

charming, quick to smile, and often caught between Sophie's tantrums and Jake's coldness. Aunt Margaret sat by Jake's right hand side, she had raised them all. Over

ed, the very picture of casual defiance. "So," he said with a lazy grin, swirling his win

don't need your sarcasm right now, Michael." Sophie, the youngest Star

feels like a hostage situa

u weren't the one who had to talk Jake out of firing

t was a financial presenta

they nearly fell out of her h

th. "I'll relax when someone else sta

knife with a sharp clink. "

ake said evenly, his voice

oftly. "We're off

her carrots. "Maybe if peo

the caterer," Jake cut

lfish, Jake. You k

"You had one bad reaction in seventh grad

" Michael agreed.

apkin flung onto her pla

even flinch. "Si

sed, sulking like a t

ember: deep breaths. Count to ten. And if that fa

m Jake and a hidden smile f

e. "You're the eldest. It's

that looked like a smile but was

"Your father would be ap

thing he's dead,

le

d like a

and reached for the wine. "

-

her building before the unease

rs. The way the hallway, though familiar, felt distorted like a child

he occasional laugh from the couple down the hall. Tonight? Nothi

or, exhaling only when she slipp

ghts w

said a voice fr

d. "I told you I h

. Not military. Not police. Something unofficial, darker. One of

d, but he wasn't her en

ed her father's debt, and sometimes, when no one was

the holster still strapped

ast her and locked the door a

again. About

told you. I'm

nk your CEO's going to save y

e. I'm paying the

the same company that buried him.

y didn't bury anyon

People don't just disappear, Z

-

ooked worse than she fe

ted. Her father yelled on the phone. Men outside their house. An envelope of p

eat him to

eports, emails, schedules. Norm

she

me. No markings. J

t slowly, he

e: a

r. Walking out of Stark Hold

Wrong girl

he edges of the paper

o into her bag just

oor. Looked at her

alr

o quickly. "Y

on her a beat lo

e momen

-

he couldn'

ge, pretending she left her lunch in her car.

being

ake Stark. By

t

ther's debt? Or somethin

hone

mber: We w

was

t t

block. Twice. Checked

he fe

er into his office f

ok like

t laughed

a joke. Are y

her mouth

N

eed to know before it bl

t s

ed to worry. I'm good at

. Jaw tense. But

presentation tomor

odded

know the h

-

got home and fou

a meeting

ho

father's debt. They'r

y n

pid. "Because you work for Stark. And

art dr

urner phone

idnight. Don

-

that night th

harp

ngerin

e way he watched her. The way

s dan

r. Not like the pe

want Jake t

o wish he noticed what