Beneath the storm

he underground garage of my building-one of the most exclusive high-rises in Townsville-its security gate gliding open wi

ne of the cashmere throws I kept in the backseat. She hadn't said a word since we left the side of the road. The t

t for me. One held the Mercedes, another my blacked-out Duc

ing a biometric scan. She eyed t

place?" she asked, he

eyes. "T

whooshed upward, silent as sin, past thirty floors, stopping only

Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the storm tearing across the coast. Warm lighting l

slowly, like she di

anything you need. I'll grab you some clothes," I said, already mo

softer black tees. She took them wordlessly, brushing pa

erything, untouched more often than not. I grabbed a bottle of Japanese whiskey-aged, rare, s

sion unreadable. My shirt hung off one shoulder, and the pants were rolled at the waist.

y?" I

ated. "No

shoul

ut her voice was less biting

he couch. "Sit. Res

idn't

vate security, two locked elevators, and a panic room hidden

us. What do you do for

f me. "Tech. Energy. A few

e edge of the couch, like she did

in hand. "Look. I'm not trying t

that could've melt

your business

tween us, heavy with things

asked suddenly, eyes

do you

d've kept

," I said

r hands. "I'm not use

the whiskey glass down

ve been around t

something shifted. A crack in the wall. A flicke

n on the wall. The fire pit in the center of the living room ig

her fingers twitch near her side like she

, Reyna?" I a

stif

," she w

lls

ancing in her eyes. "What makes yo

I've seen that look bef

I

aid, her voice sharp again. "Wondering

d

could see it-her walls, no

re tonight," I sa

oment. Then finally, quietly,

u stay if you need. Just don't touch t

flicker of a smile. But

y p

myst

he

tting her through that door had just