Salome’s POV
“How much do you want for the letter?” Barnabas asked.
I didn't answer him. I just stared at the hand he tried to rest on my shoulder until he pulled it back. Clementine shifted her weight, stepping between us like a human shield. She looked ready to snap at him, but I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of a scene.
“I can have my assistant wire any amount you name,” Barnabas continued, his voice as cold and transactional as ever. “Or if you prefer cash, I can arrange that by the end of the hour.”
I turned my back on him. The arrogance was nothing new, but it still felt like a physical weight in my chest. I started walking toward the parking lot, my heels clicking sharply against the pavement. Clementine kept pace with me, her presence a silent comfort.
“Salome, sto
