Time of the Avenger

noon light. In sharp contrast to the intense tension building in the room, the expansive metropolis below was teeming with activity.

e took a seat across from him. Ethan reclined back, his posture

x opened with a clippe

red, swirling his glass. "W

ed short, the jaws clenchin

re was a flicker in his eyes-perhaps it wa

aning forward said Alex, "Sophie Clar

with his fingers tap

ce. "She didn't just directly walk into your life, Ethan. She soug

table deliberately. "And w

exactly what I mean. Clarke Holdings. The host

his hand in his hair

. She blames us for her father's downfall, his heart attack,

e unspoken words hung in the air for a

Ethan said finally, b

ot surprised?" frown

ealed. "The way she looks at me sometimes when asking questions. Li

d the sound reverberated throughout the roo

acking beneath the strain. "Confront her? Accuse her without pro

gerous, Ethan. If she intends to take reve

Or we could try

ithout humor. "Make amends? With he

for fun, Alex. It was business. A calculated move. But pe

. We did what we had to do. Richard Clarke was

st take out a threat. We destroyed a man. A family. And his dau

ent. Sophie is not some innocent victim. She is just as man

ybe she's just trying to surviv

and for a moment the air

with sarcasm. "Keeping her? Pretending to offer her a job, t

If that's what it takes to m

This is delusio

you just being too cowardly to fac

e mouthpiece of this operation, but don't forget who built it. W

, "who brought in the clients. Who negotiated the deals. Wh

, for it bore all the heavy

said, coldly. "Pay her off and send her

money. She deserves a chance to rebuild her world, her

g Alex said, "She gets under you

Alex," Ethan said qu

take. But if you want to handle this your way, fine. Just

ith his hand on the handle. "One way or another

, the door clickin

s from him. He then took a glass, and downed it in one

, divided by guarded smiles, was braided i

ouldn't last forever. But, as with so many things,

this

roughout the room. Ethan sat in silence, the weight of his d

in t

thouse balcony. The whiskey remained untouched in his glass, melting the

e she was to Alex. She was tougher than that; she had rolled into Ethan's life l

area, heels clicking sharply against the floor of polished marble. Clad effortlessly in simple eleg

eet away. Her voice was even; her eyes betrayed a flicker of

had a talk," he responded while

rself, crossing her legs, and folding her hands

red, taking a sea

vily before them, cram

," Ethan finally stated. "A

a camera shutter. With steady neutrality, she re

voice from being a little hard but not

han thought she was going to run. Then she exh

mbled. "About my father.

"Alex told m

ngers clutching into fists. "So, I gu

surprising he

that what men like you do? Rui

deny the wrongs done to your father. What we

please, save me the h

r was no innocent victim. He made some big enemies. He took some pretty risky actions that

" Sophie fini

We sure did. An

er off-balance. For a moment, s

tell me that?

to you anymore." he said. "

s. "Make it right? You think you can just wave your magic wand

not change that. But I can help you rebuild.

ips, replaced by interrogative skep

the raw tremors of unshed tears. "More than I ever thought

her mind now. She wanted to believe him, bu

ily," she murmured. "

t I am willing to take the rest

yes. Sophie's defenses began to splinter, the walls around her

t ready to gi

ice trembled. "I can'

ed," he said steadily. "I

onette whose strings were pul

she strode toward the elevator, sh

conversation had suddenly compressed him. He had taken the first step, but he was fu

licting emotions hammered in her brain. Ethan's confession had sen

. It had been her pen shield, her armor. But now... now she w

good, but good is not enough. Ethan's words had cut through the back of h

had her father really played

ught she couldn't ignore. She needed answers. And she needed

led in and out of Ethan's life with one goal: to make him pay for what he

nsure if she could

esk, eyes scanning properties on a li

, he refused to let her leave without demonstrating

en as his phone buzze

is available," she stated. "S

." And ensure that everything is fl

rners of his lips as he hung up.

to Sophie that he m