LOGINFor a moment, I could only hear the tick of the AC and Camila’s breathing against my shirt. Catherine Moretti. The name didn’t stab the way it used to, but it still wasn’t a wound I liked touched. I went quiet long enough that Camila pulled back to look at me properly. “Before I came along,” she said softly, “all that stuff about Catherine was everywhere. Ronan leaked it to the media. I never knew how much was true.” Her fingers twisted in the hem of my shirt. “Did you really lock her in a mental asylum because she tried to leave you?” My jaw flexed. No matter what I said, it would sound like a defense. I’d earned that. I opened my mouth to answer— The shrill tone of the burner phone cut straight through the room and Camila flinched. I exhaled slowly, forced my shoulders down, and reached for it. “So?” Nadia said, without greeting. “How are we getting the rest of it?” I asked. “You said you have physical documents as well. That won’t fit in my inbox.” “You’ll get all of it th
She deflated. “You’re impossible.” “Say yes, Fiera.” “Fine,” she gave up. “Do your Batman thing.” She started washing fruit. I plucked the knife from her hand and nudged her toward the couch. “You’re not slicing anything with a concussion.” “I’m not sick—” “You’re injured. Humor me.” She rolled her eyes but went. I made a quick fruit salad, called down the hall to see if Maya wanted some. Her muffled “later” drifted back—she was buried in work. While Camila ducked into Maya’s room for a minute, I wiped my hands and called my hacker. The voice that answered was distorted, same as it had been for five years. “Hayes.” I read the text out loud, gave him the short code and some other details. “Can you trace it?” There was a pause, followed by faint typing. “Nothing I can give you,” he said eventually. “Whoever sent it knows what they’re doing.” “Not good enough,” I growled. “That’s all there is.” I hung up as Camila came back. “My techie failed me.“She sat, t
LUCIEN“Jessica and Lily should land in Zurich in about two hours.”Rafael stood in front of my desk, hands in his pockets. I rolled the passports between my fingers. Two small booklets. Two problems I’d pushed an ocean away.I crossed to the wall safe, entered the first code and metal clicked. Inside sat a second safe. Another code, then the passports went in with the documents I wasn’t ready to destroy yet.“If Nadia actually betrays Ronan,” Rafael said, “and it helps Camila’s case, what happens with Jessica?”I returned to my seat. The question had been chewing at the back of my skull all morning. If Nadia came through, I could finish Ronan and take the knife off Camila's throat, but Elysium would still be chained to Don’s clause. No loophole yet. “Are you asking if I’d walk away from the inheritance?” “Lucien, I'm asking why you're staying married to Jessica. For the sixty billion, or so you can burn it to the ground once it’s yours.” I swiveled the chair toward the window.
The apartment smelled like burnt sugar and bad decisions. The last pancake went from “almost okay” to “why do you hate yourself?” in three seconds. I flipped too late, stared at the dark underside, and killed the burner. “Perfect,” I muttered. The plate beside me was a sad mix of edible and “we don’t talk about her.” We only had groceries enough to scrape this together, a loud reminder I had to go shopping later.At least some pancakes were semi-presentable. I tossed the worst into the trash, wiped my hands, and padded back to the bedroom. Lucien was awake, propped on one elbow, sheets low on his hips. Bare chest, messy hair, so damn sexy. Golden eyes tracked me as I climbed onto the bed and crawled toward him. “Why didn’t you come out? I thought the smell of burnt pancakes would drag you.” His hand slid up my thigh, drawing lazy circles. “I’m naked. Not letting another woman see what belongs to you.” “Mm...” I murmured. “I like the sound of that.” He rolled us easily,
He looked at me like I was the only thing he’d ever wanted. His thumbs traced slow circles into the skin of my thighs like he was grounding himself. Want mixed with restraint in his eyes, something darker sitting just beneath it. “Patience, mi Fiera,” he said lowly, “when I fuck you again, it won't be rushed. It won't be hidden. I'll have you in my bed, spread for me, where I can spend hours making you fall apart. Tonight, we go back out and finish this." My body reacted before my brain did. Heat. Frustration. And anticipation, sharp and bright, because restraint like this meant our next time would be perfect. He helped me down from the desk. My legs shook, and his hands slid to my waist at once. “Easy,” he murmured. Then he smoothed my dress back down. I could feel the warmth in my face, the way my body still hummed. “Perfect,” he said, and kissed my forehead. “You’re the one with my lipstick all over you.” His mouth curved. That familiar, smug satisfaction flashed in his eyes
"I don't have time for Ronan's games.""This isn't a game." Nadia's eyes flicked to me, then back to him. "It's up to you to accept my offer or not.""Why would I trust anything you say?""You shouldn't." Her lips pressed into a thin line. She glanced behind her, down the hall. “Look, I told him I forgot my phone inside. I have five minutes before he starts wondering why I’m gone this long. So either you listen, or I walk, and you lose the only chance you’ll ever have to put him in a cell.” That made my spine snap straight. “Talk fast,“ Lucien was unfazed. She slid her hand into the cup of her left bra and pulled out a small phone. She tossed it toward Lucien but he jerked his head aside on reflex. The phone hit the floor with a dull clatter and skidded toward the desk. "Ronan has a secret lunch meeting with Judge Taylor and his family at 1 PM tomorrow. That's the only time I'll be able to call you." She stepped back. "It's up to you whether you answer. But trust me when I say—







