a price. Even

n't on any map

accidents existed in a house built

ed up toward a ceiling of dark glass. No staff. No guards. Just silence, the scent of old books, and

there. The si

elt like a secret Lucian

. One she didn't have

with a book of Russian poetry in her m

e ent

ed. He didn't need to. I

receded him-like a st

le, then mildly surprised. Surprised

found my

he asked,

. "Everything in this

e air I

said smoothly, "then

, framed by slate curtains, gazi

quiet today,"

ed me in

u space to

away my

you di

the boo

rising. "And that, Lucian, was your

ed then

. Just...

it you wa

been waiting for. The question wh

her phone, her brother's m

she stepp

ell him, bergamot,

t for once, he wasn't th

negotiate

se. A

n't shift, but somethin

otia

ything has a price.

ms. "And what ar

d faintly

linked.

staff. No guards. No r

aver. "And what do

nd tomorrow," she said

icked. Ju

f I sa

her fingers along the ca

prisoner. Quiet. Docile. Obedient...

door, one bare foo

w what I'm planning a

was a

pted th

silk-one of the only dresses she'd

A slit climbing high u

d of the dining room, a single

speak when

flexed as he pull

was darke

liers. Ju

posted. Ju

not

ou used to lure women in

lied, pouring his own glass. "I

e take the lead?" she ask

eading. I'm s

ut w

think you'

n silence

ut charged. Wi

s precise. Calculated

tightness

w rise of

fe was not

watch

urin

ays like this,"

e wh

ol

w. Not cruel. Not a

control for c

. "Then let me ask

sk

y m

n't answer

shed hi

glass do

who wouldn't run. Someone w

blin

think I w

etly. "Because I own the one th

er was the only reason she ag

hand gripped the

on't o

uture. And y

led into a fist ben

sto

ed around

t," he said softly.

scared

shoul

against her jaw, his thumb g

didn't

is is a game,

don't know

close now. Her

rned, voice breaking sli

n smi

..." His mouth brushe

eg for the r

-he step

breathles

out the door

tomorrow," he sa

ed slowly.

ice dropped

ve into my

oor closed