THE SHADOW BETWEEN US

drian, hyperaware of every breath, every subtle shift of his body beside mine. The leather

breaking the silence that had stretch

someone, fingers moving across the screen with practiced effic

icism from my voice. "How exactly is that s

omething that might have been amusement. "Elena, I own half the city. My enemies know

. This was a man who had never known fear, who had made the w

killed?" The question esca

e. For a moment, the only sound was

" he sai

not an

light, his eyes looked almost black. "But I'll tell you this - I've never killed anyo

bout my

enge. Adrian's jaw tightened, and for

et, controlled. "But I know who did. And when I find

s was dark and absolute

"Why do you care w

d mine again, his thumb tracing circles on my knuckles.

dn't even k

arning your patterns, your habits. Your coffee shop on Spring Street. The way you bite yo

y cheeks. "Tha

d slightly. "Your father asked me to keep you saf

e a physical blow. "You w

es

didn't

shed too far, crossed a line that couldn't be uncrossed. But when h

ist. "They'd already started cutting him apart, trying to get hi

id they

nt's operations. Names, locations, financial records." He studied my fa

efused to let them fall. "And

ing his digital trail. They think he left you something - a message

, though I alread

softly, "is what we'

leaming tower that seemed to pierce the

home," he said, hel

en in expensive suits standing at strategic points throughout the space that made my breath catch. The

r you?" I asked as we en

ndirectly? The Crimson Serpent has tendrils in every major business, law enforcement agen

nd proud

fractured, weak organization and turned it into an empire. I brought order to chaos,

gh vio

the thin fabric of my dress. "Violence is just a tool, Elena. Like a surgeon's scalp

dows offered a panoramic view of the city, lights stretching to the horizon like fall

ings and sculptures that belonged in museums, piec

aid, running my fingers al

te," he corrected. "T

th

subjective. Expensive taste is absolute. It's about power, about making a stat

ingers brushed. The contact sen

rying to posse

ou, Elena." His voice was lo

ooling low in my belly, and I took a sip of the whiskey to

aid, not trusting myself

Instead, he studied my face with that unsettl

ie, pretend that I was just another victim caught in

I whi

terrifying. "Fear keeps you alive in my world.

ding me down a hallway lined with more priceless art

," he said, pu

silk sheets the color of midnight. French doors opened onto a private

also a

hts. "The balcony is thirty floors up, and the building is surroun

how l

threat." He stepped closer, and I could smell his cologne again, into

t they hit like a slap. A reminder of what I was to

, lifting my chin defian

my cheekbone with devastating gentleness. "

at suppose

pate." His voice was rough, almost pained. "You were supposed to

ha

ars ago." His confession was barely a whisper. "And t

a violence that spoke of control barely held in check. I should have pushed him away, s

I kissed

nst my mouth. The sound sent fire racing through my veins, and I real

d, his eyes dark with somethi

a mistake

y voice barely steady. "

me like I was something precious. "You should hate me, El

't want to b

elt the loss of his warmth like a physi

r, and I felt panic ris

hand on t

don't want

the war playing out across his features, desire b

or

d quietly. "The door locks

lone in a room that felt more like

ad out below me, millions of lights twinkling like stars. Somewhere out there, peopl

vied

my thoughts. "Come in," I

es, with silver hair pulled back in an elegant chign

ousekeeper." Her voice was warm, maternal. "I b

he delicate china cup. The tea w

pping bags I hadn't noticed. "Mr. Blackwood had me pick up some cl

, overwhelmed. "He t

. "He's a good man, Ms. Marchetti. Complicat

ave you wor

ther his father's empire." She moved to the bed, turning down the cover

is he

s shoulders. A man who's forgotten how to be anything but the weapon his fathe

ink he want

t said gently. "But I've seen the way he looks at you. Lik

ugh there," she said, pointing to another door. "Everything you need should b

alled as she re

es

ping me safe? Or

"In Mr. Blackwood's world, my de

lone with my thoughts and the weigh

nscience, who ruled through fear, who had just admitte

an Blackwood, and it w

ad brought, as I slipped between sheets that smelle

m the moment I looked at him in the r

should have

felt like

ring at the ceiling, wondering if Adrian was lying awak

nking about me the way

lanning to break the heart I

fted off to sleep, and my dreams were full of dark eyes and

ed of f

eamed of

all, I dre