The corridor of the luxury hotel was a tunnel of silent, opulent judgment. Jay walked half a step behind Rafe, a deliberate positioning that spoke of hierarchy, not subservience. He could feel the difference in the air around him. Before, he had been a piece of scenery, a beautiful object to be admired or coveted. Now, as he moved in Rafe’s wake, he was an extension of the man’s power. The few staff members they passed didn’t just glance; their eyes darted away quickly, a new wariness in their demeanor. The rumor, it seemed, traveled at the speed of fear.Rafe didn’t speak. He didn’t need to. His stride was a command, his silence a threat. He led them not to the elevators, but to a private lift at the end of the hall, its doors gleaming brass and smoked glass. He keyed in a code, and the doors slid open to reveal a silent, mirrored cube.They descended in the humming quiet. Jay watched their reflections—Rafe, a pillar of contained violence in his dark clothes; himself, face set in a m
Last Updated : 2025-12-01 Read more