Chapter 51
My blood turned to ice as I moved toward the master bedroom of Caspian’s penthouse.
running from my nightmares, and now Rachel had somehow reached what should have been my sanctuary.
On the empty shelf sat a black gift box with a blood–red ribbon
Inside was a silver necklace, its pendant a perfect miniature replica of the lamp rd used to strike Robert six years ago
The inscription made my stomach lurch: Your strongest moments come from your most frightened ones.
I hurled the box across the room
She still controlling everything!”
“What happened?” Blake burst through the doorway, eyes wide with alarm.
Rachel sent a message,” I said, rage and terror battling for control. She was here. In this apartment.”
Within an hour, the penthouse had transformed into a crime scene.
FBI Agent Martinez bagged the necklace while Mark Bennett–Helena’s cousin and our security consultant–configured the biometric security system.
“Ms. Winters, your fingerprints, Isoldes, and Mr. Drake’s are all registered. Mark explained. The elevator won’t stop on this floor without authorization.
“But Rache! got in somehow,” I said, unable to hide my panic.
This building’s security is tighter than most banks,” Mark assured me. “Tve installed motion sensors and facial recognition at every entrance.”
I nodded, unconvinced. Rachel had already proven her reach extended beyond walls and guards.
Despite Rachel’s
Rachel’s “gift” casting a shadow over
over the evening, we attempted to celebrate.
Blake brought champagne, and Isolde decorated with flowers.
“Latest update,” Martinez said through video call. “Rachel remains under heavy guard at the psychiatric facility. We’re investigating how she managed to plans that gift while institutionalized”
I gripped my champagne flute tighter.
“She must have accomplices, Martinez. Someone who’s still out there, working for her.”
“We’ve increased plainclothes officers around the building,” she replied. “And there’s one piece of good news–Victoria Palmer’s condition is stable, though she remains in intendier care)
aus. To the new place. To surviving““”
my brunt friend,” ujde added. “The woman who took on Jeffrey Palmer during her internship.”
tervreed Caspian about why he risked his career going against the Palmer family
a talking al
an a career: Some people are worth protecting, nu matter the cost.”
I granted the phone, heat rushing to any face. “Sa year of hurt doesn’t disappear in a few weeks.”
sand user entering. Edentity: Caspian Drake.”
Caspian, who had left radies because he had something to say tri
wondt det her bout you, Caspian kand fin
My eyes fell to las bandaged alredder. “You demulder inn i fully
The intensity in his eyes made my burathe catch Six years of walls theralen
„He pulled out a ack of worii newajiajar dippings.
Every paper you published in law in hand. Every case analysis from pus inferndiji, Letters I tried to send that came back compened.
My lingers trembled as | healed themed
a yellowed envelope lalocled Graduation Hight, For Lage,” “I wonder it flat sigla. E left it at your doos,
honest words of a boy whood made a feruilde mistake trans spilled down my checks.
must have intercepted at. She’s been manipulating all of
Caspian
moved cloney, kus hand gently brushing
The warmth of his touch sent electricity racing through me, neskruing feelings Fed spent years trying to feny
“That stupid bet,” said, voice Breaking. “It started as a mistake, bad what happened between us wo
1 bound amyself drawn toward him, my body betraying my mind a
The spore leteren
urged with six years of
The security alarm suddenly blared, dattering the moment.
“STAY BEHIND MET Caspian immediately
me with his fusly, the protective gesture both frustrat in
“Unauthesized
The city pulled and the activity detected in emergemy stairwell
It was the only real thing in my life linch
meintendere founda. this on their way
I forbed to him, determination exploring fear. It to change the rodes we reacting How to be proactive
Chapter
Setting a trap. Make th
them think t
they’re after us when in f
in fact
“Were the hunters,” Caspian finished, a slow smile spreading across his face.
I extended my hand, heart pounding at the implications of this new alliance. “This time we face it together. As teammates.”
He clasped my hand in his, the touch sending warmth spiraling up my arm.
“As teammates!
dialing a number.
Outside the penthouse, a shadowy figure observed the building through binoculars before d
They’re together now. Time for the next phase.”
In a hospital room across town. Victoria Palmer smiled weakly.
“Good. Set the trap… and let them walk right into it.”
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