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