FAZER LOGIN"The Covenant is actively recruiting," Marco said. "But not for business partners. They already have funding infrastructure through shell corporations and international backers. What they need is specialized personnel.""Scientists," Dimitri said."Virologists specifically," Marco confirmed. "They've been posting on dark web recruitment forums, academic channels, gray-market scientific networks. They're looking for people with expertise in infectious"They're looking for people with expertise in infectious disease," Marco continued. "Specifically virologists with experience in pharmaceutical development and bioweapon containment protocols."Dimitri leaned back in his chair. "That's a very specific skill set.""Which is exactly why it's the perfect cover," Marco said. "A businessman trying to recruit scientists looks suspicious. But a virologist trying to join The Covenant's research division? That's believable. That's exactly what they're hunting for.""I'm not a virologist," Dimitri
Eve came with a broken cry....harder than the first time, her whole body going rigid as the pleasure crashed over her in waves that seemed endless.Dimitri groaned, his rhythm faltering, and she felt him pulse inside her....hot and claiming...as he followed her over the edge.They stayed like that for a long moment, both breathing hard, the water still streaming over them.Then Dimitri pulled out carefully and turned her around, pulling her against his chest."I love you," he said again, like he needed her to hear it. Like he needed her to believe it."I know," Eve whispered against his skin.He turned off the water and grabbed a towel, drying her with a gentleness that contrasted sharply with the brutal way he'd just taken her. She stood still, letting him take care of her, too wrung out to do it herself.When they were both dry, he picked her up, she was too tired to protest, and he carried her to the bed."We're not done," Dimitri said quietly."Dimitri, I can't....""Yes, you can,
"I love you," Dimitri said, the words deliberate, weighted. "I love you more than I've ever loved anything. More than my empire, more than my reputation, more than my own life. And I need you to remember that when I'm gone. I need you to remember that everything I'm about to do, I'm doing because losing you is unacceptable. Watching you die from a virus I could have stopped is unacceptable. Living in a world where you don't exist is unacceptable.""So you're choosing to risk dying instead?" Eve asked, her voice raw."I'm choosing to fight," Dimitri corrected. "There's a difference."He kissed her hard, like he was trying to brand himself into her skin. His hand fisted in her wet hair, angling her head exactly where he wanted it, and she kissed him back with everything she had, all the fear, all the anger, all the desperate need to keep him here, safe and alive.When he finally pulled back, they were both breathing hard."I need you," Dimitri said quietly. "Right now. Like this. I need
"You won't," Dimitri said."You don't know that.""No," Dimitri agreed. "But I believe it. And I need you to believe it too."Eve closed her eyes. She felt his hands on her shoulders, pulling her close. She felt his heartbeat against her cheek as he held her. She felt the warmth of him, the solidness of him, the reality of him.And she felt the terror of knowing that in three days, all of that might be gone."If you die," Eve said against his chest, "I will find a way to bring you back just so I can kill you myself."She felt his chest move with something that might have been a laugh or might have been a sob."Deal," he said quietly.Mike cleared his throat. "I'm going to head out. Let you two...." He gestured vaguely. "Talk. Or fight. Or whatever happens next."He walked to the elevator, paused, and looked back at Dimitri."Seventy-two hours," Mike said. "Don't waste them."The elevator doors closed, leaving Eve and Dimitri and Nonna in the penthouse.Nonna disappeared into her room
Eve felt something crack inside her chest. "You're just going to do it. No matter what I say.""Yes.""Even if I beg you not to.""Yes.""Even if I leave again."Dimitri's expression finally shifted, something raw and vulnerable crossing his features. "Don't.""Don't what?" Eve asked, her voice breaking. "Don't leave? Don't beg? Don't try to stop you from killing yourself?""Don't make me choose between you and saving millions of lives," Dimitri said quietly. "Because we both know how that ends."The truth of it, the brutal, devastating truth...settled over the room like a shroud.He was right. If The Covenant deployed that virus, millions would die. Including her. Including Mike. Including Nonna. Including everyone she'd ever known or loved.And he was telling her that he could stop it. That he was the only one who could stop it. That all it would cost was him walking into a facility that might kill him."I hate you," Eve whispered."I know," Dimitri said."I hate that you're doing t
POV: EVEEve was pacing when she heard the elevator.She'd been awake since 4:47 AM, the exact moment Dimitri had left the bed without explanation. Business, he'd said. A temple kiss and nothing else.That was three hours ago.Three hours of cold coffee, unanswered texts, and the growing sense that something was very, very wrong.Nonna was in the kitchen, pretending to prepare breakfast but actually watching Eve with that knowing expression that said she understood more than she was letting on."Cara," Nonna said gently. "Sit. Eat something.""I'm not hungry," Eve said, her eyes fixed on the elevator doors."You've been pacing for an hour.""He's keeping something from me," Eve said. "Again."They both remembered what it took to bring her back.The elevator chimed.Eve stopped pacing.The doors opened, and Dimitri stepped out. Mike was behind him, and that....Mike being there....immediately told Eve this wasn't a normal business meeting.Dimitri's eyes found hers across the room. His
She had. She really had."When?" she asked. "When do you think... when would you want...?""To marry you?" He smiled. "When the six months are up. When you've had time to truly know what you're choosing. When there's no doubt in either of our minds that this is forever."Four and a half months.Fou
The arousal was shameful and involuntary and made absolutely no logical sense, and it was there regardless, coiled low in her stomach alongside the shock, the two things existing in completely contradictory parallel the way they had since the warehouse.She heard the shower run.She heard it stop.
POV: EVEThree days after Mike left, Eve had started to believe things might actually be okay.Not perfect. Not simple. But okay.Mike had stayed for dinner that first night....had eaten Dimitri's pasta in near silence, had answered Eve's careful questions about London in short sentences, had looke
POV: EVEShe'd moved to the living room by the time the afternoon light started going golden, tucking herself into the corner of the large grey sofa with a different contract....one she was actually managing to read this time and a second coffee that had gone cold twenty minutes ago.Dimitri was in







