ett

ned directly int

s of Manhattan like a black mirror. The apartment was massive-cold, mod

aid, spinning in a slow circle to t

the living room, which was dominated by a glass wall overlooking Central Park. "It was a luc

glancing at me sideways. "Should I be

ake it unclear if I was joking. "The master suite is yours," I added, poi

res," she stammered, looking at

he words hang a beat too long, watching a faint flush climb her throat befo

the kitchen i

eas

land. "It's a big kitchen. Easy to get lost." "I think I'll manage," she sai

ed, deliberate efficiency, reaching for a glass from

as

tered on the h

r until my knuckles turned white. I made sure my voi

"Don't touch it! You'll cut yourself." She knelt down, carefull

to my face. "I used to be the best player on the ice,"

my legs earlier. The illusion was working perfectly. "You're not u

I asked

led, thick with unspoken tension. I reached out, letting my

voice rougher than I meant it to be,

I almost missed it, and then seemed to hear herse

ianna. It's be

ctly still in the darkened living room until I heard the water running in the en-suite spa. I knew exactly what she was doing-stripping off that dress t

the shower was s

ck. I winced slightly-the welts I'd taken earlier were real enough-but

monitors hidden behind a piece

eillance feeds from Kena's estate. A live f

my phone and

e ice. "And Cole? Find out which professor at Elianna's univers

the accounts

ed. "Log every transaction Kena makes.

Elianna's bedroom door. I tes

predatory curve

er my breath, and something about the word

pered to the wood.

r and sat down, becoming