Crave Me, Kill Me

een long after the video ended, the

ked into the camera like he knew someone was w

ed the access logs clean.

d out of the office

the elevator.

eached the sky terrace on the executive level. The doors opened to a quiet rooftop garden wit

t the stone raili

s in t

not dee

up an old research app she used for freelance investigati

les

an's

awards, old features in Forbes and Business Insider. But bur

y Over Internal Scandal S

was a

ian

s older

e structure but with a look that didn't

cly. Quietly. Two years be

hadn't been seen public

he was eit

hid

find a PO box linked to a charity he once

er head long after s

ian

s older

who walk

o one tal

phones in but no music playing. Her laptop glowed in front of he

a message to a

hat Killian

to his name hadn't been checked in over six months. His last financial footprint was a w

last

llian, near the Upper West Side, stepping into a building owned by a s

ame

ivately. Fo

about Project Blackbird, or C

brother who

yped q

r Name Is St

: UN

o

expose you. I ju

hat Blackb

the fo

only one ask

est 87th Street

p.

e a

t come

fore she could

isappeared, her

oser. But it was already i

o her desk, Cassian

her o

he door across the hall, arms fold

her since she came bac

asn't hi

lm but laced with warning. "Yo

her bag on the desk, powered up he

observation

t you've bee

. "If you want to

glass door behind him with a whisper of

idn'

ted," he said. "And I d

r internal comms system," Aria replied,

ghtly surprised. He wasn't

re to accuse me of something, ju

ved c

tening. N

elibe

aid. "Looking over your shoulder. Leaving th

I needed to log

k like someone

her eyes. "Are you always this

didn't s

ng," he said. "You'r

ped, but she did

if

ise you

reat. Not quite a warn

hat scares m

nk it

until only a breath r

d ask yourself why I'

at her. No smir

ray gaze, dissecting

r," he said finally, "there

if I

ped to somethi

r be ready for

ter Cassian left, her body still

her mind. Every flicker in his expr

w some

n't know e

e

eally expected one not from a man like Killian Vale. A man

corner alcove for coffee she wouldn't drink.

ed, her screen

message fla

wn (Secure

re Playing a

what

who y

ant a

e a

op floor. Ba

PM to

tell C

ring yo

ollowed d

n-off. But she

the energy be

ale had r

s watchin

reen long after the

For a second, she saw the girl she used to be. Eighteen. Shaking. C

n of her wo

s o

as go

on

N

ing to

ck do

m all this and survived he might be the only person left who co

meone tried

il, shut down her

idn't care. Phones rang. Suits walked by. Lau

it mean

ner phone into the lining, and walked tow

erythi

e knew two thi

ian was

e didn't want

he elevat

n't loo