believed control

, he had in

views, no digital footprint outside of aliases and shell corporations. Even David Cross h

tly well not t

the chaos brewing inside his own

in

ne thing he h

er ignore no matter

ouldn't

.

block from her apartment. Rain fell in streaks across the

was

the tiny apartment like a sh

ow than she had t

too protecting som

r ch

d've wal

tness of her lips, the way she had looked at him like he was

his power, his p

is touch and th

.

oach her. Not di

orked aroun

he worked, funding granted through a "mystery donor." The shop su

hout warning. Told her she could wor

r knew t

ay as she stepped out, a small smile tuggi

something i

t want g

moment of peace and yet he

.

e headline carefully crafted, leaked to the right gossip co

was beginnin

ted With Mystery Woman while

y tensed when she left her apartment th

hurtin

eing her in

fists c

d to burn but

made ano

r landlord. Rent had been mysterio

fight it. To

got no

sil

im but if she was carrying hi

n his

.

rawn into Al

e seen "accident

at a small cafe two

o bodyguards. Just an aver

recognized

lifted from her

nd for a moment, the

oving at its

ked, her l

e whispered

't believe

lf-smile. "Yea

he wanted to run

that f

ept it

to see you ag

he muttered, huggi

n, fingers cur

he asked,

ere was

"I'm

push it, J

ou look.

i

but still beautiful in a wa

to reach

ad, he st

yourself," h

walke

.

e, Zane watched her

wrong but he co

ght. Sat by the window. Picked

ch, hand resting on her stom

ark, his reflection

't a game

n't just

was real and he didn't k

.

ile...

hrew a phone at the wall,

don't care what it cos

ed. Why is this

nked it to the woman at your office p

find o

"There's... a rumor... Z.

face w

d the nam

at lingers in the shadows with a presence tha

was target

already

-

she wouldn

left a

one of his men, untracea

Just to

sure. N

an

waited for a reply

t formed at the back of his head,

a single message buzzed on t

ner. Tha

unched agai

himself one

to no one, "Tha

.

to tell her ever

Get under her skin. Ma

e when the truth f

as Zane B

using her.

eason David's wor

ther love hi

ow which would d