THE SHAPE OF HIS CONTROL

ence so complete

silence of her apartment at night, punctured by pipes or distant traffic. This was different-th

s snapp

ing, Smoot

ther memory leaving work late, the rain, the parking

t began

was expensive,Panic made you sloppy

el the weight of her clothes, the firmness of the mattress bene

was

at up

A bed with crisp white sheets. A low table. A wall of concrete so

carefully about how

gone Her pho

or connected her to the ou

despite her eff

oor was warm beneath her bare feet, another deliberate comfor

rs No

ock

ed her more than re

the room and o

floor. One wall was stone, the other glass-but beyond the glass

teppe

forward. She followed it because standing still felt

was a wide,

off

g with money and power. A desk of dark wood sat perfect

is back to her, was a man who

awake,"

ntrolled Low enough t

t inside the door

y bui

are

tur

look like a man who n

oked grown onto him. His face was sharp, composed, almost austere-dark hair bru

n that asked

e said. "And you're here becau

aught. "You

es

it hit harder than

y that like it's rea

be reasonable," Rowan r

t and sharp. "Yo

terrupted calmly. "You just

s clenched.

N

s voice left no ro

fear. "You think you can just take m

died a problem already solved. "I

ot your d

lread

hammered

and picked up a thin folder,

won

ld curiosity flickering across his face.

not always about refusal but Sometime

pened t

were ph

member being watched. Pages of documents followed financial records

watching me,"

yea

ach turn

said. "Something you didn't u

s," she said.

ary," he replied. "Predic

an cold "Da

ugh that people noticed. Peop

d have wa

"But then you migh

k away m

rved you

and disbelieving. "

otecti

om

r gaze. "Eve

ched, heavy a

ve here. You'll be compensated generously. You

f I re

won

his voice made

g to you," she

ghtly, resting his hands

er chestnot fear alone

inat

ied her more th