d text glowed on the screen her uncle's message, sharp and urgent. For all her hacking genius, there was no way to code past the fact that her family's securit

ross the desk,

sso in one hand, and on the plate he'd set her favorite: thick, golde

g his arms as he leaned against the wall. "You think better

ightened, silly with gratitude and nerve

e, Vesper." His glance flicked over her face, noting every sign of stress. He hated seeing he

Global. He says they've tracked me to the city, and they're sending a team to the Helix Tech gala this Thursday. It's a corporate circus, and I have to go. If I don't, He

er, these aren't corporate suits. They hire real contractors. Military types. If they come

g inside him shifted sharp and dark. No one was ge

her cheek. His touch jolted her, steady and warm. "You're not running, Vesper. We'v

ead. "But you d

usand-dollar retainer today. Threw in a bonus. That means you're under my protection,

whole different reason. She looked past the uniform and saw the king b

a. I need to get close to Arthur's phone, clone his keys. If I can get his master encry

adly calm. "Then we

t's a masquerade full-on designer gowns, tailored suits. You show

n't worry about the suit. I'll

"Fine. I'm writing a signal-cloner script now. If you ho

tchen. "You type. I'll

ped over her keyboard, softly snor

ut. That hard edge in him softened. He scooped her up carefully, cradling her against his chest. She mumbled somethi

blanket to her chin, slipped off her g

rain-slicked balcony, pulling out hi

olai sounde

steel. "I want our best tactical units embedded in every staff position. All waiters, valets,

reciative laugh. "Mercenaries in our house

t blue tux. No labels. She's expecting somethin

stood,

slept soundly at last. For once, he wasn't fighting for power, or reputation, or blood.

ody who tried to