toward the walk-in cooler, I

closets, sliding the steel door shut with a muffled click. My heart hammered a

the heavy oak front doors groaned as the harbor officials arrived early, their boi

s before Taylor brought the

private study. The air inside smelled of cedarwood, ric

ad told me where the physical records were kept. The bottom dra

base of the lower shelf, and pulled. The wood gave

er against the numeric keypad. The device flashed g

ic

hree encrypted flash drives labeled with private dock nu

y fingers wrapping

hit the hardwood

. Coming straigh

e the false panel. There wa

safe door shut, and lunged for the narrow space behind the

pen, clicking sh

s didn't come on. Only the faint amber glow

p's voice came through the quiet, smooth and dan

the doorway. "We cleared three unmanifested containers through Bay 4 last night.

tate interference," Philip replied, his voice dead calm. "Now take your do

he heavy thud of footsteps retreated, followed b

ilent breath agains

en clear my lungs, the

st. Philip yanked me forward out of the shadows, spinning me aro

I could feel the heat radiating through his dress shirt. His

how to follow orders, d

the dim light, sweeping over my face, taking in my parted

le, trying to summon the frightened maid act. "I was o

in, his voice droppin

thumb pressed against the heavy pulse fluttering under my jaw, his fingers sliding into the hai

ng to my mouth before rising back to my eyes. "Your pulse

highs against the wall. The space between us vanishe

acing the sharp line of my jawline, lingering over the corner of my mout

e front of my collarbone, moving toward the apron pocket