oft click, but her voice still ec

a Wo

ace and even now when she could be crying and whimpering about the fact t

im without even trying. She hadn't slept, he could tell. But she'd stood her gr

d steps. Always measured. Always delibera

ays been silent. O

d

him like he wasn't just a name with power but a

nytim

vate study, pulling hi

the automated intercom. Within seco

senior analysts. Sharp. E

ine c

the brisk voice

d by noon. And rerun the background check on Wexfo

s,

e window, Tell Miss. Khouri to freeze the Langston deal. I don't

ation. Then, "U

without say

y staying ten steps ahead. By not le

already crac

tubborn mouth.she wasn't a threat".

a moment, the s

relief. Instead, h

by E

lf he thought he'd b

eflection barely visible against the glass. She was in

n't ha

_

was quiet, too quiet - like

ered past closed doors and carefully arranged art into the estate. The estate didn't

, but Elara had politely declined. She n

ne more time and stared a

ls. No

from he

heck if she made it to her new

oat tig

bitter. "Of course not," she whis

ened her messages

married. I'll explain everything later

e, hovering over the sen

along the paneled walls, noting the way everything was designed

ary with its vaulted ceiling and books older than her hometown. It

s path until she came to a

ok like the

oks. A small book collection. A desk that looked untou

of

hesi

nudged h

the scent of him. Her fingers brushed over the edge of

leamed in the corner, untouched. To a large oak

a fr

es that felt both distant and sad. Her dark hair was pulled back in soft waves. Her presence commanded the room, even in silence.Sh

. The frame was gold, ornate, but there was

bitterly. No. Too

mo

e because the eyes in the painting reminded her of

ear the footst

oice came, low

ldn't be

ra

the faintest trace of surprise in his expression.

the frame in her han

rame. "I'm sorry. The door

. His gaze flicked to the portra

and the woman on the wa

answer i

he was m

'd bee

woman again. "Sh

e w

lara added before sh

ded,"S

ed in his tone now, a wal

to intrude," sh

" Adrian replied. "T

quite settle in

fingers trailing the edge of

because you're expecting comfort. T

s it bui

Legacy. Powe

. And you? What w

le flickered in hi

between them ,not

portrait here? Not in the main h

ouldn't have w

and on the chair's back. She hated th

t you s

t have a

d - at the tired edges of his posture,

you," he said quie

inked.

"Because you

hing strange. That does

. "That's what ma

between them,

drop in tone. When would you l

ght off guard. You

ed his arms, leaning slightly against

aybe... this week. I do

he driver take you. Cai

lifted. "

negot

led again. "Co

nstincts,"

toward the far corner where the shadows di

low and steady, That'll be

mple nod. "That

abou

," he said, a shadow fl

something without expectation and s

about

orry ab

your privacy. I won't enter unless in

t his. Quie

the wedd

y not that

I won't touch you unless you

t silence, something in her posture shifted

ed once,

," she sai

with something close to it. Then his phone buzzed in

an" l

ession d

it?" sh

othing you need

nd walked out, h

t feel like hers, staring at a woman who'd survive