The days following the Commission hearing blurred into a tense rhythm of strategy sessions, training, and stolen moments of passion that left Aria both sated and hollow. She played the role of devoted wife flawlessly—standing beside Dante in meetings, matching his intensity in the gym, melting under his touch in the bedroom. But every night, after he fell asleep with his arm possessively draped over her waist, she slipped away to the secure study. The files on Project Pawn grew like a cancer in her mind.
Dante’s signature. Recent dates. Clauses that still listed her as “expendable” under extreme circumstances.
This morning, the penthouse felt particularly oppressive. Aria stood on the balcony in a simple cream blouse and black slacks, the cool wind tugging at her chestnut hair. The city
