r. Celeste came in, suitcase in hand, and shivered. The room was huge, with ceilings so high and floor-to-ceiling windo

ds in his pockets, looking at her with a vacant fa

was spacious and nicely furnished, but impersonal, like a

ough the silence. "That's it? No tour? No b

to her. "You're a smart woma

bbling over. "And what about you?

"You can have whatever you need-except my time. This i

the middle of the room, her fists clenched. She was

t Power

kling of silver on china. The meal itself was lovely-filet mignon, roasted vegetables, a full red wine-but Celeste barely to

onger. She set down her fork and lo

ed up; his expressi

from stone." She came forward, her e

he wouldn't answer. Then he set his glass aside, his

" she shot back. "If we're going to do this,

s mask-pain? Anger? It was gone as soon as it appeared, replaced by the cold, calculating face she

o her, his voice as cold as ice. "This

to back down. "Maybe. But ev

e chair creaking as he s

uriosity. She had gotten under his skin, and for the first time,

night E

she churned over questions. Who was Elliot, really? What had hardened him into a closed,

er nerves. As she passed Elliot's study, she heard his voice, l

ng. "Find out who's digging into my past.

his tone softer but just as biting. "N

omeone by that name, but the way Elliot said it-with s

. His eyes locked onto hers, and for an instant, she saw something there-fear

" he asked, his voic

trying to keep her own voice s

" he commanded, his tone not up f

r room, she couldn't help but think that she had just stumbl

ing? And why had he sounded so really afraid of someone discovering? She didn't know it at th