ery time I c

me. How hard his gaze had l

erous. He w

ng about him that drew me

t glow of the city lights outside the huge windows

t belon

ed to

it for the mo

e dining room, I had assumed

s wr

as t

e, drinking coffee as if he hadn't almos

ered, his dark e

as smooth, overcontr

neutral expressi

f a smirk

s the table from hi

ranged toast, eggs and fruit. It was the sort of

sita

said quietly, sipping h

o tune out the sound of my

tretched

y. T

ve just gon

ad been a

't regret it,

like th

y," Damian finally sai

owed. "

u're going to shadow me

urrowed. "

twitched.

e

roblem to be th

not going

d evenly. "

ickering look I c

d. "Then let's

his office, my nerves

was everything

loyees stood at attention, their

feare

espect

im into his huge offi

waving at the chair

ated bu

n his seat, paying m

ed. "Why did you act

threw me off.

ed. "Not a good

ed. "Ex

poseful. "People like you don't just show up

lse s

asons, a

couldn'

"Perhaps I just

e was slow, c

at you wish

chilled me t

uldn't tear

gs, clipped orders, the weigh

g, I was

ld be worse s

t a knock

ance back up from his

or swu

blood r

th

predatory. "Well, well. So did not

mach c

sit up straigh

ed between us, sha

w each other

deepened. "Oh,

ched m

sn't ha

dn't be h

. But the air in the room ch

like that

e only one

n the office

usement flashing in his little cold eyes. He had

the table. Breathe, Elena.

ey darted between us. "You didn't also answer my question." H

and I? We go way back

said this made

k him in the eye.

ng he laughed, shaking his head. "Still got th

I could feel the energy in the air shift. The pressure

didn't expect her to be here at all

ers on the desk. Slow.

y. "I don't care about what happene

st me. "She has a tenden

in a shar

e. He's trying to pull me

n't let

ng the quavering in my voice. "

a low chuckle.

my palms. Why wa

who meandered into places on

t terri

e before finally saying. "If you h

ng a hand on his chest. "So impatien

move. "We don'

rinned.

ng passed between t

posed to be

nt to be in

ould be an ac

y can't afford

olding on the desk. "Let's be real, Blackwo

link. "And what

n sharpened.

row

Over what?

st crack in the edifice of h

t time since Nathan h

han had on him, but I

s dan

lowly. "We'll ta

idened. "Now tha

yes flick over

face to stay blank. Don't re

y stood. "Ele

alf a seco

n not

heard the man. Run

d to sl

elf stand, chin up, an

't loo

oul

me, I exhaled abruptly and press

s were

y here to annoy me. H

th

as eve

ly, hoping to

ed to

only one thing my pas

wasn't

ld des