The Final Spark

's

eyond sight twisting my stomach into knots. Who was watching me

m ringing in my head. This wasn't just Carter's game

e silence, pulling me fro

sion unreadable. The sharp edges of his suit couldn't hide

told me," I sai

losing the door with

eper," he said softly, "but i

ight he carried - the empire, the enemi

teady. "It's not just about you or me. It's about the Cross legacy

normity of it settling

red. "Where do I fi

, fierce and vuln

Ava. You're tied to everyth

ts, and carefully curated appearances - the kind of pla

expansive home, his ha

ee where this al

ks and family portraits, Jaxon pul

flipping to a faded photograph of a man

s," Jaxon continued. "Rivals

- an article about a scandal that near

He was part o

e weight of a hundred b

rom your past - he's the sy

nd you're caught

oken words as we faced the fragil

verywhere - commandi

he said, voice husky. "Bu

the heat betwe

said, "and I'm not sure

ngerous smile that

e one to prove it'

- a battle of wills and want that

e buzze

, a crypt

you think. The g

enaline surge

mediately, but th

ied

ans

ut - plunging the pen

ead washe

e was

ht on the bedside table, e

sper from t

g for m

as chilling

od ran