Years

e, One Night

ust turne

music. Her father had thrown a celebration ma

essboard, and she was the

nty-eight then, dang

t have been

she

ie, no smile, just shadow. Women flirted, men env

rotecting someth

ed and the music softened, she slipped

out here alone,"

m n

t her for a

ara

ing down her bare shoulders. "Do y

our father introduced you like

ly. "He never saw

d

le

ed at me like I was ma

closer, "

t... she almo

walke

not

before the real f

ent

ale, Execu

oke to

ind that

d that

and deadly. Her heels clicked against marble as

was alre

ose again. His

n't gr

t nee

t's silence still

The words.

t you said

ery word,"

yes darkene

unblinking. "Eve

k again until th

her folders, ignoring the way he watched her

burying things,"

fr

something alway

m. "And what do you th

pace between the

hing he hadn't do

tucked a stray piece o

ps brush

rashed i

nched.

nd lin

ch me," sh

d to beg

girl i

es met

said. "But I think

breath

want to fee

body rem

used to sta

voice coul

e hated wa

at you're doing," sh

hat when I kissed you, when you kissed m

nce

d louder

en, pouring herself a glass of water she did

he hea

tst

Cassian standing just

acket. No

t h

Alive. In

doing here?"

dn't

itchen slowly, e

he said. "You're

said n

." He stopped. "I feel ev

cracked.

can

as close.

cupped

n't pul

herself

d. "Or I thought you di

brushed he

Amara. I

ath sho

isse

s a m

as h

te wrappe

seconds, maybe ten, then

iss the ghost you c

hick. "Then tel

st

N

urned the photograph fr

e sink, the flames swallo

d be no mo

re al

was a

w, so

M, Malaka

count Maya sold d

nd

ffshore trust owned by

went

s were De L

lonis w

posed

rything," sh

sitated. "

d at her

s. Blac

qu

she

I wil

er private va

red wall in her

ed th

the chilled

a's documents, heirloom weapons, and a single

a bu

for Cassian, t

she neve

it up, cold

used you,"

he di

just

in his suite, shirtless, a

ed his l

pered int

. I know