The Enemy Who Ignited My Desire

'd seen his photograph in the financial documents, buried deep in the due diligence reports she'd reviewed before accepting this contract. Cipher Jame

've already killed the night guard

they didn't scream. She reached for her phone. He was faster. He crossed the room

oundation, the cover-up, I know everything, Scarla. I know you kn

er blood running col

thing you love burn. Starting with this villa and the man who'

She lay frozen in her bed, her heart hammering, her mind racing. She should move, call for help or do som

aid. We bend, we survive. She'd survived

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ying to process what had just happened. Then she heard a groan that traveled through t

ets and the ten-thousand-euro-a-night ocean view plunged into the churning sea below. But she didn't run. Because at that moment, she fin

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ed rebar, through everything she'd built and everything she'd destroyed. She landed hard on s

a moment, she couldn't move, couldn't breathe nor think

as bleeding from a gash on his forehead, blood streaming down his face and soaking into hi

t also fury. Fury

knew he was here. You knew

nne

st tightened until it hurt. "You've been lying to me from the begi

ke up an excuse, to bend, to survive,

e was here. I knew what he was planning

th something she c

whole life being afraid. Afraid of failing, afraid of losing eve

er to die in the wreckage she'd helped create but instead, he pulled her into

he sai

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far wall, checking the locks. His movements were precise and mechanical, but she could see the tensi

," he said. "The tr

ame out flat and hollow. "He knew it was flawed

w l

d me to stay quiet." She laughed, the sound bitter and broken. "I was so desperate to save the firm and pr

Cip

er head. "I don't know how he knew. But he's been using it against me. He s

ryth

s eyes. "You, me and ev

. Then he moved to the table, l

ve told me," h

kno

ed you. I would ha

er face. "But I didn't know it then. I w

brushed away her tears. "You're not alone anymore, Scarla.

you still want to help me?

lied, I've hidden things, I've let people down and I know what it

do we

ip on her face tightened. "

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d controlled, and her own heart hammering in her ears. She reached for his hand. He gripped hers bac

d his hand.

kno

door. Then a voice, smooth and amused and u

not here to kill you. Not yet because that would be too easy." He paused. "B

her continued. "He built the flaw. He knew what it would do and he did it delibera

ibed the inspectors and threatened the workers." Cipher's voice was soft, almost gentle. "And when

the words wouldn't come because she couldn't prove it

le you're waiting to die." The footst

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erate. "It's not true. I sw

arl

the flaw to destroy you. He covered it up, yes. He w

o you

esperate to save the firm. But he wasn't a murderer." Sh

ment. Then he pulled her in

chest. "How can you?

Kennedy's voice was soft. "He was sloppy, despera

staring at him. "

ew it was flawed but he designed it that way. Your father covered it up, but Cipher

o you

g fell apart. He bragged about it and boasted that he'd destroy everything

him. "Why didn

a strand of hair from her face. "And because I wa

d n

soft, almost tender. "And I know that you're not your fa

burying her face in his shoulder.

e held her tigh