The C.E.O and I

edside table. Her arm flailed out from beneath the covers, kno

27

ra, call

hing's wron

omach

end, Maya loved on the other side of time

er fingers trembled as she t

en

ken. "She texted me an hour ago. Said she w

aight in bed. "

ay home for the weekend, and th

ns. "I'll check in with Jake. He.....

etective service?" Lena snapped. "This

now

something she'd regret. Her mind was

sing, this was

r Lena. She couldn't think any

r bag, the burner phone Victor gave her, and a coat. She

focus, lose everyon

fr

out thinki

-

king up to a banging door and

of his penthouse, shirtless

, he fo

es burning. V

he said, like it ex

e weapon slow

-

hts streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows. J

her, jaw tight. "

e full extent of how tied she'd

nished, he leaned back in the seat a

tch flipped, he

I want names. Whoever you're protecting

simple. If I name them, they'll do

ady are."

argue. Sh

e told me soo

nt to drag y

ard. "Zara, I'

-

curity contacts, Zara stared out the windo

deals. Now Maya. She could

someone stepped inside l

it and an arrogant grin. Not as cold a

ake," he said, unb

his is not a g

Ro

ildhood b

Zara had no

diately. "And you must be

nked. "I

talks in h

red. "He

wider. "Of

in his eyes

-

5th Avenue. Jake's contact confirmed it had

arly co

and Eli, of all peopl

her as her k

She didn't mean to fall into him, but her body had stopped listening to her brain

te. One wrapped around her waist, firm and steady. The o

," he whisper

. "They're doing t

e said that h

hone. The screen dis

little friend c

he phone, stared at it for a l

make them

-

For safety. For sanity. Jake set her up

hands steadying her. Not when sh

s outside her door around

ake stood there, shirt

sleep,"

her c

at each othe

e stepp

e wal

-

esisted harder.

holding two gl

," he said, han

n't strike me as the

you've had a h

d, the bu

, neither of

y, "what if I hadn't taken the job

hunted. Just wit

him. "Are you

closer. His hand touched her f

mething

aned i

his time, no awkward build-up. Just need. Hunger. Her fingers tang

t make it

ink, hands roaming, mouth never leaving hers. She gasped as

top," he said

her head

ds were firm, precise, like he

ugh his slacks. It was fast and slow all at once fast because

cried out. He caught her moan i

y against his che

have done that,

said. But h

er di

the next morn

d it to a ten-mile radius. There's an abandoned property they've be

roze.

he's alive, that's whe

ready movin

ra said. "

frowning. "No

f something happens

alive to come back

he was right. But because she

going to

ne was go

nmarked car. Zara stood by the

ur pa

n t

r phone

Call it off or

idn't

pped out the door, and f

come to he

sn't runni