Two: Smo

-

Abandoned Lo

d it aga

l burned going down. The loft smelled like fried rice, leather, and victory. Music thumped low from

a cracked leather couch, che

ing the bottle cap and taking a long drink

"Please. That was all you. You stared down Ale

beside her, "except that puppy c

o Sienna. The woman who stole a look from

glasses, che

mile, but her mind

as wi

-

k - Five

New York

's heel

res and tight enough to hide nothing. Her hair was coiled like a

the ballroom, champagne in

ter care. No family. No degree. Nothing

was her f

f an oil tycoon from Houston. You inherited diamonds. You're here to flir

a nodd

a woman's hip Senator Duclare. Rumored to fund pri

e m

li

seduction. She laughed at the right moment, reac

iced. H

enna Vale stopped being

came a

-

in t

said, waving a hand in fro

d. Her drin

ack on the couch, tucking her le

ling beside her again. "Don More

her eyes but

ause

y what she was

-

- Midtown

i Headq

ulled up

rd. No digital footprint befor

o glared

about her d

ess either. She wasn't mafia. Not cartel. Not law enfo

hen she loo

idn't

d. Even before they

ut the

e stayed beh

-

in B

oft, looking out at the slumbering skyline. Her cr

er boot and pulled

e U

the one they w

s desk. Sitting in

't meant

.. couldn'

le crept ov