The villa was quiet once his men left, carrying files and evidence. The masked man leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, watching me with that predatory calm that always made my skin tingle.
“You can leave now,” he said, voice low and commanding. “I have what I need.”
I froze, my chest tightening. My fingers trembled, but not from fear. “No,” I said, sharper than I expected. “I *need* to know.”
His brow arched beneath the mask. “It’s done. The investigation finished. You’re safe now.”
I took a step closer like I wasn’t scared of him.
“It concerns me I won’t just walk away because you say so. I’m done being afraid of everything.”
He tilted his head, amusement flickering in the dark curves of his mask. “Afraid? Of me?”
“Yes!” I shouted, throwing my hands in the air. “Of James, of
