The pressurized hiss of the Gulfstream’s cabin door breaking its seal was instantly swallowed by the heavy, suffocating wall of tropical heat that rushed inside. It was midnight, and the private airstrip on a secluded, outer Bahamian cay was surrounded by a wall of impenetrable, whispering palms. The air tasted of salt, damp hibiscus, and the faint, bitter tang of aviation fuel cooling under the damp sky. To Elena, the transition was a physical shock. Only a few hours ago, she had been standing in the air-conditioned, clinical perfection of Vane-Vance Tower; now, the humidity clung to her skin like a warm, transparent layer of silk, making her instantly aware of every breath she took.She stepped out onto the metal air-stair, her heels silent on the damp rubber treads. She had changed out of her sharp corporate trousers, opting instead for a backless, deep-emerald silk halter dress that flowed around her legs like liquid water, catching the warm, salty breeze. Around her throat, the s
Read more