It was 3 a.m. when I finally made my way back to the house. The air was still, heavy with the quiet that comes in those early hours of the morning when even the city sleeps. The house was dark, a soft glow coming from the windows of the top floor where I knew Chad was keeping watch. I wasn’t in any hurry. Today had gone well with Desmond, better than I had expected. But even the satisfaction of a deal well-made didn’t sit quite right. Not with Grace still weighing on my mind.
As I stepped inside, I saw Chad sprawled across the couch just outside the bedroom door. His shoes were still on, his body half-hanging off the cushions in the way he always managed to sleep when he needed to. The guy could sleep in any position, in any place. It didn’t matter. I gave him a glance, then quietly moved
