The first light of morning was a dull smear against the harbor mist, casting the old penthouse in hues of grey and fatigue. Raven stirred beneath the covers, her muscles aching with a sweetness that hadn’t existed in months, not just s*x, but connection, trust rebuilt cell by cell. Jaxon had fallen asleep beside her for the first time in days, one hand loosely curled around her waist like he feared she might vanish if he let go.
The moment shattered with a sharp knock against the outer door. Not the coded tap of Jaxon’s men, but a new pattern. Urgent.
Jaxon woke instantly, pulling on his jeans and holstering a gun beneath his shirt. He motioned for Raven to stay hidden and padded barefoot into the main room. Raven slipped from bed anyway, pulling on one of his shirts as she crept toward
