d tasted li

out tasted l

lass like a ghost tethered to the past. Her trench coat was gone. Her sidearm was tucked out of sight

followed her in

led. And that kiss back in his office... it had cracked something

ars and her pulse still stuttering

es for a second.

in. Exha

him. Not about the

t-a contract with too

e always did: protect the mi

ded behind her. Sharp.

gray, sleeves rolled to the elbows, the top few buttons undone. Casual.

t to cancel the boa

l need tighter security pr

background checks

through an external net.

voice dipping low. "Y

. "And I'm not taking orders from

could crack her open with his eyes alone. "So

er tone razor-thin.

ou still taste

"And you still tas

ilence

gain and slid a printed

l name. We don't have that. But he was last seen two weeks ago at a weapons auction in Vie

've buried that leak. Press

ne who didn't want the public to know-

t, half-hidden by shadows, lifting a glass of champagne under

er seen h

Kills on commission. Recruits former black ops teams-merc

. "Except you'r

. "But once...

tilled be

had the courage to unpack. The mission that went too far. The kiss t

an said finally. "What exa

your team, your security system

sking for control of a bill

keys to the trap bef

lating glint returning to

p you

after

dn't a

d more t

ause. "I'll grant full ac

d. "You're neg

u want access to my kingdom? Yo

"You want me

see. Know what you suspect. Hear every

tion," she said. "

r. "I'm not the

that he ha

t if I'm staying clos

e extende

it for a beat.

ake was so

lingered in his ju

not

for the job?" he ask

way. "I returned to com

e leaned closer. "Unusual... becaus

the glass door-broke the sil

e, early thirties. Like a line of silent authority, her long braid ran down her

a ping. Encrypted signal just bounced from a retire

ghtened inst

r compounds. Off-grid. Only

rey. "Your training com

ere them, they'd never p

st of every operative with clearance. Then cross

nodded.

t paused, eyes flicking

seau," she s

a

heard

hings,

twitched. "Depend

that, s

to Sebastian. "Sh

e," he said. "That's wh

ur... w

smirked.

t I like to know who's got yo

again. "These da

n-that heat, flic

could reply, he

line. He

to answer, voice

n the other end. "And so is the threat.

d. "Where in

port. Wareho

ose. Too symbol

there. Her mother used to sell

sending he

she said. "I

ll and turned ba

ow, not like a CEO or a target, but like a man w

le?" h

way

oing to M

's where the game started.

ming wi

instantly. "It'

id someone wants me dead. You'r

done w

ost enough,

d open between the

ay anything.

t him and grabbed the f

wrist gently

t's personal... or because it

oked a

me in two years, she

ot