Velvet Sins

adn't

inancial records scrubbed clean. Everything Lucien had told her about the Callisto shipment, about Rourke's signature,

've felt v

, she f

len said as she walked into the pr

ng for," she muttered, flippin

s. More

e captain's brief

, walking-no, marching-to Rourke's office. H

e calm expression of a man who always

Somethin

flatly. "The real one. The tunnels.

his face didn't change. "You've

not a

. He leaned back in his

g fairy tales. You're tire

"How long have you been

l, Dete

risk. You made me hunt shadows while the real threat

slipping. "You think arresting one crime family makes the others

d back, hea

ring this to In

long time. Then he re

fficers entered. Not

r investigation for unauthorized access to classified files, breach

e whispere

toward her

ke, d

e said coldly. "I gave you t

cuffe

the office, everythin

Her credibil

nrave

se of

e of L

he fear and rage, some

wanted to

n n

one resting silently on the glass table behind

was

hadows. He'd checked the precinct once, sent someone

e with slow finge

ing wa

qu

cl

red the room, his expression unu

igger than the on

by Internal Affairs this morning.

en f

e set

he accessed files on the Callisto shipment witho

. "Of course they are. Easier to make h

ted. "Callisto's moving. Word

aw clenche

ity now. And you... well, they

urned forgotten

ifting beneath his feet. The moment he'd pulled

was payi

carefully. "What

eel. "Get eyes on Rourke. Tap his driver, his calls,

ded, alrea

or edge in his chest. His mind replayed every word she'd said, every look she'd given

make that mi

to keep him a

in danger be

ht he would let h

tten who the

ht above her. A mirrored wall she didn't need to be told was two-way glass. Sera s

just of power-

with a badge she didn't recognize. Not Internal

id, opening a thin file. "

dn't r

otage that mysteriously disappeared right after. You

l si

ng like a knife. "I think you finally got tired o

apped up. C

ou're not qualified to

not here to moralize. I'm here to cl

e sent

who understands the importance of balan

down. "You can't

we need to. You're here b

he wolves devour each other. You go back to your little apartment. Get a desk

h ghosted

disap

ithout an

haking, not fro

knew

were chains under this city that ran through the courts,

e wasn

t

whil

y, black coat whipping in the wind. Below, cars passed like ants. Camera

Matteo stood beside him, d

she's inside?

off the books. No official re

rimly. "Then we

s the

et. Smoke. Two teams. Ge

aft

hard. "After? We b

round. By the time the guards noticed the smoke cu

attention and gunfire. Lucien slipped in through the emergency corridor, the master code already overri

n't ha

ight. She knew a diversion when she heard one. Sire

kne

h

t u

apped towar

d, black-clad, a gun in one

she s

ime.

her hands trembled-but not from fear. She was f

y r

t was chaos-Matteo's crew was already pulling out. Lucien sho

ors sl

ve into

e district, engine humming down

u o

d on him l

rnment holding facili

es

idea what that's

es

Hard. "You arr

wing, not to hurt-but to s

tly. "Don't pretend y

ore she could stop them.

asked for the truth. Y

d falling. Her voice cracked. "The

ouldn't

met in the dark,

erything," s

ed. "So

rvival. Fear. Rage. Desperation. All of it poured into hi

y pulled apart,

happen

yes were i

o to