did no

crawled across it. Every sound felt amplified-the distant hum of generators, the f

eeing the

moment she didn't k

w who

d against her ch

she had made

in the study ju

course he was. Men like him didn't wait for problems to a

sed the doo

ook up. "You sh

informed,"

t his a

d leaned back slightly, st

fur

rstan

rected. "It's

es narrowed

irectly across from his desk.

pa

e?" he sa

heard

u don't get to terminate a c

xactly th

tched. Dange

" Lucien said quietly.

alled

yourself

she shot back. "You just

ment was controlled, but it sh

u what was

e what was

"You're alive becau

ped becau

"You would have be

ds land

hen we're done pretending

said

ed. "And you dragged me onto

d you beh

ained m

dropped. "Wha

as sharp. Dire

n't hesitat

in his eyes-surprise

renegotiate

es

't have

inly. "You th

en w

ed me. Directly. That means whatever ga

were

vulnerability to force complianc

refully now, like a m

your terms

more secrets that involve my safety. If

how this w

n ad

"I choose where I go and who I see

d sharply. "A

conversat

t yourself

ready

be

e said. "I

wh

I don't care if it's filte

You're asking for things

ard. "I'm alrea

pressed

the window. He stared out at the e

lt for this," h

m. "You don't know

hat this world does

le li

with con

weaken. "Then maybe that's ex

ed her for a

wly, he n

dition,"

ened. "Of

atters," he continued. "No im

. "And you stop

pa

d," he

felt heav

eath she hadn't real

said. "Then

ised a br

said. "You flag

es

x i

ready in

lias C

arkened. "He doesn't

he prize," she said sl

didn't

hone buzzed

th look

ess

wn Co

sband thank you. I've n

s jaw c

king you,"

sting bo

that you can't

oked at h

You're not the only

ond, Helena appeared

he said. "There's

ed instantl

"One of our shell companie

ore softl

"The press is a

dropped. "This i

ly. "This is because h

tated. "The

ze sharpene

financial," she said.

t ki

ooked at

ollowed

se spiked. "W

ed. "Marriage-

om wen

dangerously calm.

file," Helena said quietly

od ran cold.

sed his ey

said, voice tigh

s eyes and l

, "that explains w

echoed i

os

m. Not co

ntio

ne buzz

er me

e print, Mrs

husba

Lucien, dread po

sign me into?"

didn't

realized the truth was