Traffic felt impossibly slow during the drive back into the city, every red light stretching longer than physically possible while my mind raced through every conceivable reason Silas Draven might show up uninvited at my office within days of a break-in specifically targeting my personal records. Ronan offered to accompany me, his expression tight with barely restrained concern, though I declined, unwilling to hand Silas the satisfaction of watching Ronan hover protectively over every interaction between us.
I arrived to find Silas seated comfortably in our reception area, flipping through a business magazine with the relaxed ease of a man perfectly at home despite having no actual invitation to be there. Talia stood nearby, arms crossed, her expression carrying the particular controlled
