Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 11 - Chapitre 20

Zane was already at the window when Leila came down the stairs, late, in her pajamas, still tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. He sat in the rotating chair angled toward the morning light, one leg crossed over the other, phone in hand, giving instructions to Jonas — a wiry, gray-haired man in a plain black suit who nodded along without a single word of his own. "You'll take her to the venue," Zane said, not looking up. "Walk the floor plan with her. Note anything out of place." Leila stopped a few feet from the desk. "I thought you were coming with me." "Change of plans." He finally lifted his eyes, unreadable, already moving past the question. "Jonas will keep you company." She glanced between the two of them — the old man's polite, unbothered face and Zane's, giving nothing away at all. Something about it sat wrong. Yesterday, he hadn't let her out of his sight long enough to breathe. Today, he was handing her off like a delivery. Before she could

Thomas remained where he was, the faint smile on his face never wavering."Tell me..." he said evenly. "Have you found what you're looking for yet?"The question settled between them like smoke.Zane regarded him without expression.His posture stayed loose, but every instinct was alert.Men like Thomas rarely asked harmless questions."If I had," Zane replied, "this conversation wouldn't be happening."A quiet laugh escaped Thomas."So confident.""I've earned it.""So have I."For a long moment, neither man moved.Around them, workers pushed equipment across the ballroom below, their voices drifting upward, blissfully unaware that two of the city's most dangerous men stood only a floor apart.Thomas rested one hand lightly against the gallery rail."I've heard a lot about you, Mr. Rogers.""Same.""I'm flattered.""You shouldn't be."Thomas's smile widened just enough to notice."I expected a threat.""You'll know when I'm threatening you."Silence stretched again.Thomas studied Za

Sleep never really came. I closed my eyes. Opened them. Turned onto my other side. Listened to the silence pressing against the walls of my room. Every time I drifted off, I saw the same smile. Thomas. "I do hate leaving things unfinished, Leila." I jerked awake again. The room was dark. For a moment, I wasn't sure where I was. Then the familiar ceiling came into focus, and the memory of yesterday settled heavily over me. Thomas was back. The man I'd spent two years convincing myself I'd never see again had walked back into my life as though he'd never left. And now... Zane knew we'd met. Maybe not everything. But enough to start asking questions. Questions I couldn't answer. Not without destroying the fragile life I'd built since leaving that part of my past behind. I turned onto my back and stared at the ceiling. There had to be a way out of this. There always was. I just couldn't see it yet. The sunlight filtering through the curtains finally dragged me out

The limousine was already waiting when I came downstairs, black and gleaming under the morning sun.I reached for the door handle and a guard stepped in front of it instead, apologetic."Not that one, Miss Leila."I frowned."Why not?"Zane's voice came from behind me, flat and unimpressed."Because the last time you rode in it, you threw up on the seats."Heat flooded my face instantly.Two of the guards near the front gate developed a sudden, intense interest in the pavement, shoulders shaking just slightly with the effort of not laughing."That was one time," I muttered. "And I'd just been kidnapped.""Noted."He didn't sound moved.I stood there, mortified, waiting to be sent to some other car entirely — and then, just as I turned to walk toward the second vehicle, he exhaled like the decision cost him something."Get in."I blinked."What?""Before I change my mind again."I climbed in before he could reconsider.The drive was quiet.Too quiet.I kept sneaking glances at him, try

Sleep refused to come.I lay on my back, staring at the ceiling, watching the shadows shift across the room as the moonlight slipped through the curtains.Every time I closed my eyes...I saw the same thing.Jonas.The shadow beneath the stone archway.The garment bag is changing hands.Then Carlos's voice drifted back into my mind."Be careful who you trust, Leila."I turned onto my side.Then onto my back again.With an irritated sigh, I threw the blanket aside and sat up."This is ridiculous."I was letting my imagination run wild.There had to be a reasonable explanation.There always was.So why couldn't I convince myself of that?I swung my legs off the bed and walked toward the window.The estate was quiet.Garden lights glowed softly below.Bodyguards continued their patrols as though nothing had happened.As though I hadn't watched Jonas secretly hand one of my gowns to a stranger.I folded my arms tightly across my chest."What are you hiding?" I whispered.No answer came.O