a's

emainder of th

terrified despite Ethan's tight grip and t

g that message

office's lock

was frigid in the m

lowly sat up. My mind was heavy, but my

h. They were still

ov

rgotten w

g up and putting on one of his shirts that was dangling from a chair

t felt like

cup of coffee. At the end was his office. Ev

id he c

continue, there

ee on the count

who in heck

e floor as I cleaned my hands a

knock. M

ped when I op

stood there with his jaw cl

ttle folder. and in the ot

rning," h

nd then at the fl

tered. His gaze trailed over me-his shirt

rled in

this view,

ut smile even thou

rose there?

having courage.

tips lightly touched my cheek before slowly

raised th

... this i

ned. "Wha

uch a nod. "Let

not touching. On my la

wly op

inside. My name. The name of R

this?" I

the debt. And

The name *Black stre

Richard came up with it three years prior

t as I gazed dow

ing. Silently. It's only a piece. I'm still

"What prevented you from

you safe. I was u

him. He had gentl

have complete fa

ption to inform

ove for my h

afraid you'd be upset with me for retaining it

ined ou

Real.

sed my templ

m you. I'd like to make thi

ained

n't ha

put my face against his chest

eved him fo

ith his lips. Slowly, his

ead-and we kis

more slowl

ps seemed to be requesting

. Breathless, I straddled him

r fell to

h longing as I felt h

my neck, "I misse

tly, "I didn't

ne regarding the bills. Howev

posed flesh. I arched my back. He teased me with

e you," h

, "You alre

im everyt

ouch, rig

bodies entangled, hands all over the

ted on his chest as we lay brea

zzed on the t

d still. However, the

nown

rabbe

sudden,

on,"

questioned,

ard the screen. "I've been recei

stop

s showed

ogni

ea

, which is

hone. I opene

ll her if yo

t him. "What did

dn't r

art po

" I exer

e, softly, almos

said something

s a knock on t

ar

t l

med

of us

blanket about me. Ethan quickly got

ocking

outside with a flash drive in his h

ed across

We must speak. Right now. She

at entered. He was so focused on Et

clared, "This cannot wait." "You'

ound the blanket as I

you?" I

own hair, a square jaw, and a scar that extended fro

nd I collaborated. He returned

jaw. "I promised to

the truth. Rather, you placed her in your

yelled. "Avoid

, I took a step forw

h drive. "Everything is here. Records, messages, and ema

hair with his ha

I snapped. Discover what my spouse was

's air gr

"Observe it. By themselves. After

g another thin

closed wit

's little flash drive as

step forward.

etre

d to assist me. that

s, I

?" I raised it. "What's in here tha

ned, but he re

ver to the coffee table and

's not the whole story,"

said. "And while I see

ed the

drawn to one. Titled: **"Project Sa

cli

deo s

isage filled

gas

ed. Older. Greyer

ow and fast. **"And you probably realize something's wrong. Lila, i

st cons

ish. Ethan warned me and tried to stop me, but I ignored him.

ds were

s a cover. For a worse thing. If Ethan shows you th

video

mple a

rth was that

didn't

at him. "What is P

is hands as he slu

tha

d off information, your husband. private information. Blackmail was bei

ichard betraye

Decoys were the intended use for the files. However, someone actually manag

ky legs,

of this... and

d to keep

me to develop fe

sery. "I didn't intend for that to occur. Bu

pierced

know wha

d screen, Richard's fr

y-my pho

ssage. Unkn

re next. Get t

ent

safe?" I

up slowly

's safe?" I r

r. "The one in Richard's offic

as I ran up. hurried along the cor

something sharp,

of a mountain on the w

little steel

ut the coding," I s

I had Ethan

s, I

ed his han

9-1-3

opened wit

as a gun

e black

an envelope sme

ands, I grabbed i

e my name in

ok it

nly one sent

m the beginning. Never p

in my hand, I cautiousl

mained

in his eyes was not tha