or

out ,vase clutched tightly in my

n the damn

a

t,

he doing here? A

ot just from fear but somethin

bling. I didn't open it not yet. I just lean

time lower. Firmer. "I know you're in there. I sa

iped the cold sweat from my forehead and unlocked t

able, that expensive coat clinging to his tall frame like it had mol

White short

ething flicke

Restrai

right now," he said, steppin

here?" I asked, back

n't re

partment, scanning the room like he expec

llowed?" he

cracked. "No. I-I

ge." His voice was shar

til

do

d. "After you triggered that stupid firewall at

ed. "So you're s

e cold. "I'm protecting yo

ow up at my house in the middle of the night li

ious

aw ti

inside both of us. Every emotion we'd buried since the day we met rus

" I hissed. "Not when you've

on't understand," he growled, closing t

rve to know what I've

to know?"

ren't supposed to be part of. You've been d

e droppe

use o

the truth, Zane. Why me? Why are you so

king down to my mouth,

teeth. "I'm furious. Furious that you don't

de me, his body so close I could

leave," he

ps pa

him t

this wa

l h

idn

hispered, "W

was all

t, pulled me in, and his

sn't

as f

flesh like we were both trying to

s his hand slid under my shirt, palm flat against m

s forehead pressed to mine, eyes closed l

dn't be happen

op," I w

did

me-but no less desperate. Like he needed

ly... he s

wide like he'd just r

tered. "Ivory.

u d

gh his hair, pacing

derstand," he said. "This... whatev

cked with som

am

il

ng

oss," he ad

I'm y

ed to leave, but s

d without looking at me. "Whatever you think yo

sappeared into the night, leav

ng from a kiss

a

er That

came in at

lagged: B

od ran

, when the notification pinged. I clicked the link-fast. Ivory's name fla

omach

d it up aga

risky. This time? This time she'd crossed a line. The k

e firewall a

se had see

on her IP. Not from inside Grey Hol

was watc

king

h

ignoring the gnawing pit in my gut. I didn't

get to

fore I did... she woul

uld di

ke the

still running. Lights were on in

eme

inside

nk

he shadows. I was alert, watching for any signs of a third

perimeter. No

omething

a person, not anymore. Gone in an instant.

't hes

the door and

espo

dy my voice, but it came out ti

l no

n, lower this time. "I saw the light.

ond p

e lock

e-eyed, barefoot in a blue T-shirt and litt

gaze to stay

tiful. And unaware of the m

t asking. I had to make

here ?" she asked, v

t be on your

ct or fear I wasn't sure which,

n blinking back to her desktop, it co

Blackridge,"

dy sti

he tremble in

r you triggered that stupid firewall at wor

her . "And I

spying

," I snapped. "Don'

her face. Anger. Hurt. That fire she

up like some stalker and a

e to stop myself. The h

esperate. Her chest r

ose I could f

ant her. I didn't

I

, I

ing else but her presen

ips p

ldn't

and I dragged her to me,

aos. Lus

she was drowning and I

, I didn't care

that she was I

was my st

could dest

e, her lips on mine, the way she

y, panting, chest heaving

fuck did

r skin had been hot , her mouth fire against mine. Every

s off-

drove through the empty streets. The city bl

Pres

tice. The girl my father had sent me a photo

tepsi

tended she didn't affect me. I'd buried

t... tonig

she'd been searching for answers

t let her fac

er Blac

me like it always did. Those files she tried to access,

people h

was suppos

ackridge wasn't just a facility. It was a mistake. A secret government operation turned nightma

othing and designed to scare any

ind the

uth would s

l name on the rep

e out who I

t her boss,but the estranged son o

lying. For kissing her. For

under my

r ag

time I touched h

in my past. She didn't deserve th

ackridge were still

oping, if they even suspected

uldn't

hrough me, sh

t , I had to

meant pushi

breaking my own