HER SIN

eeping through the heavy curtains, casting l

r than usual, her mus

stretching against

tting through her mind like pieces of a fragmented dream. It wasn

earching for warmth. But her fingers were only met with t

tered, rubbing her eyes wh

ff her bare shoulders as her sharp gaze dar

noth

ot even a s

llow barely even there, as though he hadn't bother

one?" She

and a sharp laugh

urmured, the words tasting bitte

d, not caring that she was completely nake

room, searching f

emained

th

hed without so much a

her nails digging into her palm

k does he t

ual fling, some dis

he woman who decided whe

ng on the nightstand, immediatel

ma

ere, mock

er fingers brushing a

tful. A par

d, her grip on the mask hard enou

re him

e whether to be fu

ad the guts to vanish without her permission? People di

et, h

etheart. If you think you can l

a nearby chair and slipped it on, tyi

stairs and interrogate the front desk when her p

gaze snapping

strides, she grabbed it a

u

the screen before pr

ce, clearly annoyed. His tone was far from the

er eyes. "Good mo

it is? You've got thirty minutes to get your ass downstairs.

ose. Of course. The goddamn mission,

e not," s

mes and move. You're

er nails pressing against the glas

got fi

esting me this early

ime sta

d retort, the l

he phone as if she c

ne

ran a hand through her tangle

ornings to pu

ask on the nightstand, an

tery man woul

l prick better

throom, her bare feet ta

orway, she glance

again, his hands gripping her hips,

rled into a

ing. And you don't

to the bathroom, the door

-

outskirts of Las Vegas, a gleaming te

vada sun, creating sharp, angular shadows

d into place, the campus felt more like a luxury resort than a school. It was the kind of plac

lot one by one, their polished bod

ed up in perfect rows. Kids poured out of them, wear

ner cologne, fresh leather, and steam

their arrival, the growls of multiple e

veway with the kind of entra

s-Royce, and Cadillac SUVs-moved in perfe

shed surfaces, blinding anyone wh

doors of the lead vehicle swung open, and o

ked back, his olive skin gl

ca

magazine cover, but there was a quiet ruthlessness in the

owd of gawking students with thinly veiled disdain. When he reached the back door, he

," he

vement, followed by its twin

step out, she co

eyes, but nothing could hide the aura of

lack blazer that hung effortlessly off her shoulders. Around her neck was a

he beasts moved with a predatory grace, their massive paws silent on the pavement as they flanked her. Their dark,

in black suits poured

like a silent immovable wall. The way they mov

rk playing on her lips. The air surrounding her was electr

urse, they

is that?" some

step out of

e, famous or

n Mastiffs? What th

She strode forward, her heels clicking against the pa

f course, s

accharine voice

turned her head just enough to se

ect way was standing with her hands on her hips, her de

high school

nde? Was it in the job d

ou?" Scarlett

e girl said, her smile as sharp as a knife, "but t

rk freezing for a second

ween the two, s

sunglasses down just enough to reveal

ed, her voice oozing with prid

cute. Daddy let you pla

e could retort, the sound of hurrie

wire-rimmed glasses, appeared from the buil

nearly tripping over himself

th fell op

ow it bordered on groveling. "It's an honor to have you here

tead she turned to one of her men, ha

ate. They seem to be

nodding his head

ly but obediently followe

a moment before finally tur

uca replied, falling

cipal awkwardly stammered, st

without a second glance, leaving

owd parting like the Red Sea as

harsh lighting, and the murmur of whis

allway, cataloging e

r uniforms perfectly ironed and their expressi

n, she

kers, arms crossed and looking like s

idnight, the other a vivid, burning red. Th

eps faltering for the fir

ght staring into them, tracing the face

was

y man from

ut to say something, Aria's v

lli

ound, her expression fille

eye catching the light

sted into knots as the

ian

ta

ma

d to manipulate, contro

slept

't even the mos

t time to an eightee