ence st

raised, as his eyes shifted between the two men. Luca's smile st

said, this time directly to

lazy shrug. "

the sofa, not aggressively-but with intent. There was no need

k a single step forward, cautious but not backing down. "You looked stunning toni

the scotch in his glass. "They w

little closer, "they were

diate. His hand twitched once near the bar, then settled. Co

close

mid-step. "

ated, eyes narrowing,

y, setting his drin

m, then laughed. "Relax

d to get that

sked, still smiling but now visibly irrit

remained fixed on Maddox, watc

opped. "You're i

ll me where to stand

once. Nothing aggressive-just one step. But the

pened, but not

his hand down the front of h

clearly surp

id en

red. Like he was ending a scene h

nd turned. "Good night," he muttered, before

fell sile

toward the door until it shut, the

e to say anythi

kno

him talk

ous how far

ow you

ed into a faint s

ther of them saying wh

reached for it this time, glanced a

d th

e, brow furrowing s

ed. Just a little. B

ot a problem," Ma

phone back, eyes

ge was short, but the name attached to it carri

plied, handing

ed it without

sleeve. "What's she doi

e's contacting me n

you a

ook. "Would I be sh

gers tapping the rim of

x said, already pouring

not sp

d. "It's not

further. Maddox always worked in silen

tly, dulled by thick walls. Inside, the room was st

rying to stir some

does," Mad

he bar. He took the decanter from Maddox's h

oesn't know

never

ss to his lips. "You

'd go through my office.

his eyes. "Then

sion was unreadable again, that

ar, his voice low. "If she's ba

plied. "But she's not ge

spond, the lounge doo

e it was

ember-young, ner

there's someone a

ession didn't

her name

n fr

et his g

he

east wing. Pri

once. "I'll be

member lef

the counter, watching Ma

response? She

. He reached for his phon

ced at him.

idn't r

the door, straightened

oking back

t anyone

he

ed at the

buzzed i

w me

m A

. How loyal can you be wh

the screen. No typing bubbles. No follow-up. Just

dn't

ked back to the bar, picking up his glass. It tasted d

usic pulsed faintly from the main h

s later, the lounge

cufflinks sharp,

ked back to the bar, picked up

ask anythin

s," Maddox said finally,

li

ngle nod. "She d

did sh

red a par

ed a brow.

both o

, flat and cold. "N

He just looked strai

"If she's making offers, she's al

s blu

uffing," Sore

im. Soren met the l

pulling out his phone. He tap

the line onc

"So now she's t

ot sur

arms. "She's try

e phone to the b

hen Maddox asked

N

oo

etched again. T

e counter. "She's not j

kno

still b

alway

sn't like be

s," Maddox sa

r opene

was the assist

ontaine, there's an issue

sharply. "What

a leaked something.

d up, glas

ack. "They're asking ab

" Sore

Maddox c

They're asking if the t

of the

at f

ped forward. "Ge

lowed. "W

er until they reac

ttention. She

and they both step