CHAPTER 13
Silk, Steel, and Stardust
Rory’s gaze remained fixed on the glowing screen of her phone, the weight of the message sinking in. She still lacked his given name—a missing piece of the puzzle that made him feel more like an urban legend than a man—but the surname “Mordrake” now carried a lethal resonance. It was no longer just a name from an old newspaper clipping; it was a shadow that had finally stepped into the light.
The notification was brief, stripped of any greeting or pleasantry, appearing more like a digital summons than an invitation: Today. 9:00 PM. The Presidential Suite, The Beverly Hills Hotel. Spare keycard is under the doormat. Do not make me wait.
Rory’s gaze flickered to the wall clock, seven fifty-seven in the evening. Time was shrinking. “I have a profound d
