ye

d a single center of gravi

s," from a garage startup into

e espionage threat I neutralized, every high-stak

ismatic face, t

apon in the shadows, his head of

sed me a

racing my jaw. "It' s you and me. A real life. No mo

ieved

every ounce of skill I learned in special ops, eve

a lavish party for his inner circle

em, a small, genuine smile

was slightly ajar. I heard his voice, smooth and c

ock allocation is se

at about Ava, Liam? What' s her role going to be,

my smile wideni

. It was a sound I knew be

yal for a decade, I'

air, like he was talking

kage, a consulting title.

oze. Severa

n his voice changed. It softened, losing its corporate edge and

a title means nothing

nd the silen

oe is di

lo

ank space in my m

oice now a tender whisper. "She' s... clean. Untouched by all

shattered the w

to mar

s, chimed in, confused. "Marry her? Li

arp and impatient. "Chloe is the prize at the top. Ava understands b

hesitant. "But a decade

terest," Liam snapped, all warmth gone. "She's a soldier. She

left m

een resting on the d

from my numb fingers. It hit the marble floor an

but inside the room, th

the floor. My entire body went cold, a deep, invasive c

d in my mind,

survived a hostile takeover attempt from a rival. I had worked for 48 hours straight,

nto his arms, his fa

pered. "I swear to you, when we make it, everything I

believ

door cre

he saw me. He saw the look on my face, glanced at

his expression a mixt

g in my ears. The polished marble floor

ed, and the wo