Between Love And Obsession

n Security Ta

r dusk. A plume of dust exploded behind the black SUV as it sped down the gravel road into the remote training

de of the window, Audrey sat rigidly in the passenger seat. Because it was too o

ontrol the car and the other

Lia are already employing thermal sweeps and signal jammers. Wh

anning the empty plain outside. "You

. "It's not about protectio

the tension in her s

lowered. "You thin

ng a dangerous game. Feeding us just enough to k

in tactical black, saluted as the SUV passed. The moment they parked, two handlers rushed forward-A

Audrey's doo

nite-buzz cut, permanent scowl, and a scar across his left temple from a gre

sions. Huge screens lit the room, showing maps, biometrics, threat analyses. Lia typ

chatter between Zurich and Damascus. Both mention 'L'Ombre.' French s

es?" Sebas

's what's weird. One of the encrypted threads uses

hesi

rague," Audr

ll like a

ghost lines. Ones only a few of us ever had

ened. "There's a m

't shift, but the fire behi

er the incident with the sniper. We traced two vehicles that left the area immedia

?" Sebast

apped a key, and a g

er eyes. The resolution was low, b

she br

t-had a slight limp. A small tick in the left le

" Sebast

r head. "Worse.

nder his breath

him?" Seba

ille. He trained me. Protected me. Then he vanished during a bot

e bodies were recovered

e's not working alone. The chatter points to an u

eside Audrey. "Wh

, it's going to be messy. He was always two steps ahead of e

rward. "We need t

frowned. "

ovan firm was even official. Back in his CIA contracto

owed. "I thought he

"Montana. Near Glacier P

doesn't?" A

grim smile. "Th

to be anyone's pawn-not even his father's. But she also

at dawn,"

countered. "We

That

und B

vents. Audrey stood under the steady stream of the shower, t

n who honed her into a weapon before vanishing i

ad on the soft tile,

e bathroom doo

er eyes. "You sho

s soft, low. "You di

into the steam behind her. He didn't touch her-just stood c

hivering,

m f

you'r

oulders, dripping down her back. His gaze was fixed on her-not j

breaking," she

of pretending you're

something

ly, just watch

held nothing but truth. Not lust. Not hunger. Just recognition. As if

oved

lips to his like it was a sin

hought. Their kiss wasn't gentle. It wasn't romantic. It was a clash of fire and grief. Of years lost and now found. O

water, fingers tangled in his

r name like pra

ight," sh

wil

rning-after vows.

row, war woul