oom, Damien stopped. He didn't turn around, his

ng," he said. His voice was low and dev

A knot of anxiety tightened in her c

this house escaped him. He finally turned his head slightly, his profile sharp against the shadows. His gaze fe

ard, a tiny crack in the intimidating facade. It d

r, her mind racing. As the latch clicked shut, she heard the faint

Ethan's voice was sharp with indi

torial hiss. "What matters is that she's in his department. She is ou

than scoffed. "Come on, Mom. She

nce's panicked whisper cut th

nreadable as he listened to the clumsy plotting. He closed t

k. The room was like him: immaculate, imposing, and cold. Clean lines, da

at the manicured lawns. He didn't waste time

he point. "Is it because of Ethan? Or because you

er. She assumed, like everyone else, he

, his tone clinical. "I won't interfere with your choice. But I need t

rt she was now ashamed of, had been about staying close to Ethan, about proving s

t to be able to stand on my own. Sterling-Carlisle was a part of my par

pression, a brief, almost imperceptibl

the departmental onboarding documents and a non-disclosure agreement. Report to H

ssistant? Working directly u

s of the entire division," he explained, his reasoni

for a fraction of a second. A strange jolt

ice's scheme, a source of frustration for Ethan, and, for reasons she couldn't begin to fathom, the direct subordinate of the most powerful and