pped out

air conditioning. Her bare feet slapped against the freezing marble floor. With every step she took, the ORACLE

ressed the down button. The red numbers ab

i

s steel door

dead center in the eleva

, having finished a call. He looked up. For a fraction of a second, genuine surpri

indifference. She stepped into the elevator, completely ig

ors sl

he rich, heavy scent of Ebert's cedar cologne clashed viol

the blood dripping from the torn IV site on her hand. He

amused breath. He

ked, his voice a lazy, arrogant drawl that filled th

locked on the floo

ay," Erica replied, her voice flat and cold. "Y

was surrounded by women who hung on his every word. This fera

elevator vio

died for a split second as the hos

balance. Her newly fused spine couldn't com

is large, warm hand wrapped firmly around he

dn't yield. The second his hand touched her, her waist locked up lik

ained her center of gravity

drove it straight up, pressing the hard edge of

rt. Their breath min

idn't spike. Instead, a dark, predatory fire ignited in his eyes. He didn'

rously soft, "anyone who puts their hand on my t

back into his aggressive eyes. The

l be the first exc

Recommend immediate distance. The s

ped back on. The car res

ng his grip. She stepped back, pressing her sho

uit jacket. He looked at her, clearly savo

Ebert said, his tone shifting to pure business. "I can help

at him like h

nd I'm not trading one cage for another cage with your name on it. Keep

ed. The ground fl

en to the bustlin

out without

ppear into the crowd. The smirk on his face deepened into

rveillance team on her," E

the second she stepped out. She knew she had just cau

ating area, scanning for a dev

the glass doors, she spot