ate office, Adrian sat at the head of a long, obsidian table. The gala suit was gone, replaced with a tailored black shirt rolled at the sleeves, the

n this circle truth wore no disguise. The empire lived and breathed because of the shadows: shipments ro

began, his voice smooth but edged with steel. "A leak in our Marseille li

xchanging tense gl

ting under the low light. "I always notice. Find me the

knew what his words meant. Comfort in Ad

ed himself a drink, amber liquid catching the skyline's reflection. He should've been thinking of routes,

had kissed him back despite every reason not to. A dangerous

't stop the hunger

andra Knight wasn

before the floor-to-ceiling window, her reflection merging with the city lights. Fury licked at her veins,

l man in a gray suit, his scarred knuckles visible even in the dim light. Beh

She slid a photograph across the table. "I want eyes on her. Where

d, tucking the pho

, leaning forward, his tone mocking

. "Not yet. She's a seed. I want to see how far

ut it wasn't a smi

g of the storm ga

hands. The sun slanted through the blinds, but it didn't warm her the way it sh

et every sip of coffee, every quiet second, carried him b

ng the mug down. A man like Adrian belonged to

r, frowning. Across the street, a black sedan idled, windows tinted too dark. Nothing unusual for the city

left that evening, the same car was there, parked two blocks down. And later, walking

ickened. Was she

ght a

him. He should've been at Cassandra's side in their penthouse, but the thought of

oss her screen Elena leaving her apartment, glancing nervously

s of red wine in her hand, he

you've walked into, darling,"