INICIAR SESIÓNThe auctioneer's cadence moved through the wall. I had built something without him. That was still true. It would stay true. Whatever I said next didn't touch it. "I don't know," I said. "That's the honest answer. Not the managed version." I met his gaze. "I don't know if what's left is enough to
Alicia's POV The older man was still talking. "Seven years," he said. "Four jurisdictions. We moved water infrastructure across borders that hadn't spoken to each other in a generation." His hands traced corridors in the air between us. "The archive is the proof it happened. That it worked." He tu
“You entered without cause,” I said. “You stayed without one.” “I don’t know what this is between you two but—” “My wife.” No variation in tone. No additional weight needed. Alicia’s hand lifted a little, then halted mid-motion and settled again without completing the gesture. The woman exhaled
Edward’s POV “Forty thousand. Do I have forty-five?” The paddle was already raised. Alicia’s hand remained under mine, unchanged in position, as though neither of us had adjusted to its presence since it settled there. “Forty-five.” I raised. “Fifty. Fifty-five.” On the left, a man leaned forw
The fifth lot began. Edward moved to speak to someone at the side of the room. I watched the auctioneer. She crossed the room toward him. He turned when she spoke. She laughed. It had worked before, that laugh. I scanned the sixth lot. Mixed media, authenticated 2019, provenance verified. Her h
Alicia's POV Volkov was already at the door when we came in. His eyes went to my dress and came back up. Lazily. He turned to Edward, and they shook hands. It ran a half-second longer than it needed. "You both came," he said. "You invited us," Edward said. "I invite many people. They don't alwa
Edward's POV I stood in the study doorway. Papers still scattered across the floor. The lamp, back on the shelf, cord dangling. Drawers open. The compartment in the fourth drawer still visible. Still empty. I'd closed the other drawers. Stacked some of the files. But I kept coming back to this o
Alicia's POV I woke up slow, the kind of slow where you can feel the quiet pressing in on you. The guest room still smelled of lavender—Elena's diffuser from last night. This wasn't my room. Hasn't been for weeks now. But it was safe. Right now, that counted for something. My chest didn't feel as
Alicia's POV The office felt quieter today. Not empty. Just softer. The afternoon light coming through the tall windows was hazy, warm without being harsh. I pulled my cardigan tighter. Not because I was cold. Just needed something to hold. Coffee in one hand, I walked past the desks toward my ow
"Targeted." I kept my voice even. "Just me." She didn't answer. "Why?" "The decision came from executive coordination." I watched her face. The way her eyes wouldn't quite meet mine. "What does that mean?" I asked. "It means the directive was finalized at a senior level." "Which level?" She







