did no
crawled across it. Every sound felt amplified-the distant hum of generators, the f
eeing the
moment she didn't k
w who
d against her ch
she had made
in the study ju
course he was. Men like him didn't wait for problems to a
sed the doo
ook up. "You sh
informed,"
t his a
d leaned back slightly, st
fur
rstan
rected. "It's
es narrowed
irectly across from his desk.
pa
e?" he sa
heard
u don't get to terminate a c
xactly th
tched. Dange
" Lucien said quietly.
alled
yourself
she shot back. "You just
ment was controlled, but it sh
u what was
e what was
"You're alive becau
ped becau
"You would have be
ds land
hen we're done pretending
said
ed. "And you dragged me onto
d you beh
ained m
dropped. "Wha
as sharp. Dire
n't hesitat
in his eyes-surprise
renegotiate
es
't have
inly. "You th
en w
ed me. Directly. That means whatever ga
were
vulnerability to force complianc
refully now, like a m
your terms
more secrets that involve my safety. If
how this w
n ad
"I choose where I go and who I see
d sharply. "A
conversat
t yourself
ready
be
e said. "I
wh
I don't care if it's filte
You're asking for things
ard. "I'm alrea
pressed
the window. He stared out at the e
lt for this," h
m. "You don't know
hat this world does
le li
with con
weaken. "Then maybe that's ex
ed her for a
wly, he n
dition,"
ened. "Of
atters," he continued. "No im
. "And you stop
pa
d," he
felt heav
eath she hadn't real
said. "Then
ised a br
said. "You flag
es
x i
ready in
lias C
arkened. "He doesn't
he prize," she said sl
didn't
hone buzzed
th look
ess
wn Co
sband thank you. I've n
s jaw c
king you,"
sting bo
that you can't
oked at h
You're not the only
ond, Helena appeared
he said. "There's
ed instantl
"One of our shell companie
ore softl
"The press is a
dropped. "This i
ly. "This is because h
tated. "The
ze sharpene
financial," she said.
t ki
ooked at
ollowed
se spiked. "W
ed. "Marriage-
om wen
dangerously calm.
file," Helena said quietly
od ran cold.
sed his ey
said, voice tigh
s eyes and l
, "that explains w
echoed i
os
m. Not co
ntio
ne buzz
er me
e print, Mrs
husba
Lucien, dread po
sign me into?"
didn't
realized the truth was
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