Arielle stood by the window of her room, staring out at the quiet city below. The morning was gray, the streets lined with cars pushing toward their destinations. On the surface, nothing looked unusual. But inside her chest, everything was tight. Last night’s near slip had nearly cost her everything. Kairo hadn’t said a word, but the way his eyes lingered on her, sharp and unreadable, told her he wasn’t letting it go.
She needed to breathe, needed to act normal again. Normal was safety. Normal kept suspicions at bay. She turned from the window, smoothed down her blouse, and forced herself into the calm rhythm of routine.
When she stepped into the dining room, Kairo was already there. He sat at the head of the table, suit jacket off, reading something on his tablet. His coffee sat untouch
