her lungs dragging in air a

The alley

expecting damp brick

met with grey. So

tchen. The sheets were Egyptian cotton, cool and smooth a

e, blue light of early morning. The curtains-heavy, automated velvet-were slow

rashed i

penthouse.

d at the

d with military precision. A pair of soft

cked up the lace bra sit

iver ran down her spine. These weren't new. The lace was slightly worn at the strap. These were

as a reminder. Even when she thought she was free, she had been archived in

ing the strange intimacy of wearing clothes he had

om door and stepped

rst. Rich, dark roast. Then, t

smell to the open

was t

He was wearing black athle

ed dead in

antry door. His back muscles rippled and bunched like shifting tectonic pl

he toes of his sneaker dragging slightly on the mat below. He was compensating entirely with

.. ninety-nine

dro

His right foot tapped the floor to stabilize. A sharp, guttural hiss of

self against the granite

eaction, she told herself. Just biology. And horror at the

saw

f-naked or in pain. If anything, he stood a little taller,

tay on his face. "Yes. Actually. It's the first

coffee machine, a slight li

the marble island toward her. Black

the mug.

buzzed in

She pulled it out. The screen flashed a

h dropped. She

on? Is every

e in the cheap suit? Chad? Or... no, he was screaming about money. He was banging on

d her knuckles turned white. T

is he sti

"But he was gone. Faith, you can't come

and was shaking uncontrollably

second. He took the

and authoritative. "This is Detective Grant, private security

d. Grant? It was his middle

d in the lobby now. They will be there in five minutes. Do not open the door

cond, then nodded. "

the phone into his p

asked, her vo

flip a piece of bacon. "Less baggage attached to the middle

c rising again. "If Chad kicked the door

cal failsafe for the Oracle network. If Chad ransacked the place, he might knock it loose. If he found it, he woul

," she said, stepp

en turn around. "The

o leave, to get to a secure terminal, to initiate the remote kill switc

l said, plating the bacon. "You

ing questions," Faith argued, her mind racing. "I have to go in. Just to... just to

looked at her, w

You clear your locker. But you don't go alone.

is expensive, Earl

iPhone sitting on the counter next to the fruit bowl. "That's

g-d

orbell

flin

. He walked to the

but his posture was too straight, his eyes too sha

ing his face perfectly neutral. He pushed

Al," Ea

ith, a flicker of amusem

d unpacking

atched,

rate of avocados. And... a box of L

th asked, picking up a jar of moisturiz

carton of almond milk into the Sub-Zero fridge. "Can'

eggs. The domesticity of it-the billionaire making breakfast, the boxe

the fridge door with his hip. "Until the Boar

e man who had secured her building, replaced her phone, and s

in her armor. J

Earl," she

pped inches away, looking down.

voice dropping an octave. "Eat your