The atmosphere in the executive suite of Kane & Co. had shifted from a clinical corporate environment into something far more ancient and lethal. Lora Hale stood by the shattered mahogany doors, her heart hammering against her ribs with a frantic, uneven rhythm. She had spent months navigating the treacherous waters of the Metropolis business world, but she had never seen this side of Ace Kane. Usually, he moved with a languid, predatory amusement, treating life like a high-stakes game of Texas Hold'em. But tonight, his eyes were like polished obsidian—cold, lightless, and radiating a visceral sense of death that made the very air in the room feel heavy.
She reached out, her fingers trembling as she caught the sleeve of his tailored jacket. “Ace... Ace, please,” she whispered, her voice c
