ONE-NIGHT EQUALS FOREVER

lk shirt. I don't feel anything. Not once. That's my language: power

mistake," I said as I

uest, not a flee

ience, and how her green eyes burned through my defenses. That willfu

the quiet on the phone. "

but the fact was that I need

han steel. Having feelings was a problem. But wit

" I said quietly.

hest. The boy I didn't know how to

uld feel was the storm inside me, drivin

her heels clicking lightly. Her eyes were sharp and alert. I

everything on Juniper Blake." Every address, every perso

egun the hunt. But there's more: her medical records suggest sh

t tighter, a warning I co

e hospital say

of something new, maybe anxiety, responsibility, or hast

re you going to do if she doesn't want

ed my black eyes. "Then

nt up. "That so

re bitter than funny. "Forceful is what go

er fingers. "Callum, this changes everythi

wer were nothing compared to the burden of a se

low voice. "It does change everyt

r a moment, I saw something soft

you need." No mat

sn't about boardrooms or power transactions anymore. This was a p

ht was a big change from the gloomy glow of my penthouse. The smell of sterility was eve

ed up. Her eyes were calm yet

ttempting to keep my voice steady. "She came h

"Yes, she came last week." But she h

ow where s

sorry, sir. We can't prov

assumed it would be easy to find her, but in this

ded piece of paper that was

opened the note. The writi

me anymore. Don't come looking i

esistance, a warning with s

against me. This wasn't just a secret she kept; i

ying to get a

ay from a storm th

he city spread out below me, not

game had altere

get away with something in a city I own? I kept thinking about Juniper Blake. That name seemed strong and ind

story, every job, every friend, and every place

apprehensive. "Callum, she's pr

. Who was she really? Not just the woman from that crazy night, not just the one w

storm that was peaceful. She was fiercely independent and had fought her way out of a past that sough

n I thought." But she's afraid. My voice got lower. "

m worried about. She is protectin

his was no longer just a game. I had to

but all I could hear was the pound

didn't stop. My dominion depended on control and a

cense plate trackers, and social media breadcrumbs on it. "P

. "Get a car ready

ing, horns honking, and throngs moving like a live tide.

owed up across t

ipe

hair. She seemed smaller in some way, but tho

rtbeat, t

sappeared i

't run

ye

ursuit ha

eath, and so