INA

rrived at The Pinnacle, the most

tment at the exclusive top-fl

ore sunglasses to hide my identity as I stepped i

t to slide shut, an ebony c

looked up into

re... g

a predator's hunger, and th

ctly tailored black suit that did nothing

instantly grew thick,

followed him in, but he was a

en to the almost imperceptible stiffne

apping us in the sma

pine and ice on a winter wind-

screamed a singl

ng

e power, something beyond a

rying to make myself

aze on me, as tangible

t felt like it could strip away my skin

pound erraticall

ye

inst my better judg

he polished ebo

ng and elegant, the kind of hands that looke

green with veins of gold running

business

ness ad

of a second, I fo

felt the weight of it double,

down, heat crawling u

wrong w

out breaking a sweat, and I

ence st

vator c

ed the

ve

Sev

h-low, measured, and unmi

na Ga

d snap

f the city was suppos

told my

t told

nd the kind of nondescript clothes t

thless, sharper than I intend

n't an

those cold eyes fixed on me with an

plana

ent of the que

tare, as if my confusion was

vator c

rs slid

dn't

, blocking my ex

s mouth shifted-not quite a smile, not quite anything-

steppe

evator, desperate to put space

eption desk, feeling his burning

him in, I caught a whisper-not meant for

hem muttered, then cut off sharply as

't loo

t was just a st

tonight were J

uldn't i

time in the presence of ano

ubmis

hing

didn't wan

d me inside, the door closing behind me an

ng a deep, shuddering breath, t

ew my

pposed to kno

upposed to r

gone for

chan

gr

s and a hat and clothes

chest, feeling the err

s that

ve such a terrify

yself to s

reat

encounter fr