never did anything without a calculated reason. It was a test, another

ication. It was the kind of restaurant where the elite made deals over vintage wine and perfectly seared steaks. The maît

suit that screamed power. His presence was effortless, command

e observed as he

" she replied, mirrorin

s. "Good. Preparation is ev

d at the menu before ordering. "Filet mignon,

al. She refused to be rattled by his dominan

ovingly. "Discipl

imagine you don't tolerate any

med. "That depends

s studying her, waiting for cracks to appear. But she had spent years perfec

his wine glass. "You've

of water. "I've

was piercing. "And what do you

ld cost her everything. "It's impressive. The scal

lightly. "You're not ea

ve complime

irked. "Nei

lence settled between them as they ate. But the quiet wasn

never leaving her. "Tell me, El

w better. He was digging, peeling ba

-on. "I want to be th

odded slightly.

tered. "What does D

there was something shar

between them, he

sessing him. "Control is a frag

nd dark. "Not if you

und them disappeared. It wasn't just a battle of w

own. "I think we'r

ed a brow.

voice dropped to a near whisper. "We

er stomach. Did he suspect? Or

ile. "And what game

d. "One where only t

asquez was sharper than she had anticipated. Every move he made, ev

had secured the encrypted files from Vasquez Hotels earlier that week, but she hadn't dared

proposals-everything seemed normal at first glance. But then she found so

his was it. The thre

een-an incoming message. Her stomac

: You're in de

lse th

back. Wh

tantly. Someone who knows

er throat. Had someone bee

he keyboard. She had to be

warn you. Vasquez

had spent years preparing for this moment, years

far more dangerous tha