Velvet chains

erfect, his blazer crisp, and his face-neutral, unreadable, practiced.

ng, something

ollar. A single night. One moment of honesty-and now he c

ugh the hum of tension. "M

the mirror. "

eyes sharp beneath re

dded, too

owed her ey

ending they weren't bored. Charts glowed on screens. Buzzwords echoe

n's mouth on his neck. The way he laughed when Elliot admitted he didn

me broke h

hone, then glanced at

ave to ask. He knew

phone discree

ph

i

de

eth

outside his bu

u

ot heard none of it. He kept seeing the image burned in

him aside as t

to talk.

into his office,

lick. "You want to tell me

"He's... someone

been seeing someone half your age

e. "I didn't plan

idn't. But Ellio

lmost e

is not good enough. Do you know how fast

gainst the edge of his desk. "It'

ice softening. "Are y

answer. He d

l. But you have to lie low. No public appearances with h

aled, hand

in years, he felt lik

fire escape, chain-smok

wn nu

rej

her

nother c

what i

had fo

nded up somewhere it shouldn't have-but

ntact list. He wasn't just a mark. He was

e was gon

r. He sat on the edge of the bed, phone i

im. Couldn't call.

, he wa

Jaden's eyes when they kis

life, Elliot cried. Not because he w

g worth protecting-and he w

days p

con

se him. Elliot d

, Jaden showed up

om the lobby

. Not

cold for twenty minutes

leeding. His ch

f all, he f

believe someone like Elliot

e message Jaden had scribbl

one

disappear, don't kiss