na Vasquez's apartmen

s. The caller hadn't left room for negotiation. Every instinct screamed at her t

needed

gasoline, the distant hum of the city a stark contrast to the eerie silence of the d

g dock. The moment she stepped into

steppe

ss his jaw. His cold, assessing gaz

reeted, voice smooth

ping her posture s

ething our em

d. "What are you

r. Instead, he nodde

t i

tep back. "Lik

emerged fro

She turned to run, but a

man sighed, almost bored. "

mouth. The sharp, chemical scent f

struggle before darkn

slow, as if she were wading through water. The faint scent of

her surroundings. A dimly lit room. Minimal furn

c se

hands immediately searching her body. No restraints. N

oor o

caught as a man

zo De

His dark eyes met hers with quiet calculation, unreadable yet piercing.

She shot to her feet.

brow, unfazed.

idnapp

u wouldn't have

er fists. "Wha

sing his arms. "You were at the docks

twisted. "You

didn't wa

her, grief, anger, fear. But she

ith it, didn't you?" she a

remained unreadable

ugh. "Why? Because I mi

ping closer. His presence was suf

said, voice low, controlled. "

tly, his dark eyes

squez. If you keep digging, y

d hard, refusi

m before Lorenzo exhaled, almost bo

r, two of his

her

his words before they grabbed her

glare over her shoulder. "

ly watched, his expression unre

and the car sped off into the ci

her to sto

here was some

asn't sto