she wasn't goin

been to lay low, focus on her job, and avoid dark, dangerou

her own poor judgm

e doorway an hour later, folde

o his elbows. His forearms flexed as he typed something into his laptop. The late afternoon sunlight

the moment

s Qu

vet. It did things to her nerv

held up the folder. "

't summ

d you wanted this d

f something

s how we're

t the folder on his desk wi

it deliv

eave, but his v

va

e dark and deliberate s

arms crossing.

il he was in front of her. Too close. His presen

t ear

n in cold blood on my behalf? Or when you decided it

d at the corner of his m

t ask

ched, thick a

ured. "This place... this world

chin. "You mean a woman? Or someon

es dar

ot

wn. Should've swallowed

n wasn't bui

lf, Elijah. I'm no

of silence. Hi

er, his voice dropping to a near

them snapped l

Ava's breath caught.
God help her, she wanted him.

give him the sati

ght, Mr.

eart racing, leaving the ghost of

hed her go his blood ho

years, a crooked, danger

"Trouble," he murmured to himself.
"Absolute, beautiful trouble."