CHAPTER 31COLD CALMThe figure hunched forward for a long moment before suddenly straightening. Damien’s body went rigid and his muscles tensed as he tried to study the shadowed face of the man. His grip on his seat tightened and for a split second, he thought of standing up to find out who he was. But before he could finalize the decision, the figure stepped back and walked away. Light from the overhead fixtures spilled over the desk to reveal Lina leaning forward, a small paper in hand. Her eyes were lowered as she read whatever was written on it. She then lifted her head, clearly startled to see that the hooded figure was gone. She turned slightly, uneased at first, then placed the paper into her pocket, moved a few documents on her desk, and returned to her laptop.Damien didn't blink. His jaw tightened as he studied her–tracing the way her shoulders relaxed, the way her features had softened, the way her hands moved. Just moments ago, she was jittery. But now… she seemed sti

POWDER AND GLASSThe penthouse pulsed with an electric feel that seemed to charge the very air. Light flashed all around in streaks of violent colorsh–blue, red, violet–cutting through streams of smoke that rose to the ceiling. The very floor trembled and glass walls rattled with the bass of music thundering from the hidden speakers. Bodies crowded every corner; women naked, draped over couches, countertops… each other. Some one laughed in the corner. Another screamed as someone ate from between her legs. Champagne bottles lay overturned on the floor, the rugs soggy with foam that stuck to designer heels. Sebastian sat at the center of it all, like a king lording over a banquet. Sweat sticked to his neck. His shirt hung looseley from his shoulders, collar crooked and rumpled, chest rising and falling heavily, too fast. A glass table sat in front of him, dusted white with cocaine, different pills scattered all over the top. He bent forward, placing a tube over his nose as he drew i

CHAPTER 35A BODY FOUNDA faint scent of vanilla from the candle burning in the dining filled the room and the city hummed with life outside. The apartment was quiet and Sebastian couldn't ask for anything more. He leaned back against the couch, one arm draped along the cushions behind Vanessa, the other flicking the remote, searching through channels. News. A cooking show. A pointless sitcom that forced laugh tracks where it wasn't needed. None stuck. Vanessa sighed as she sank into his arms, legs tangled with his. “Nothing catchy is on," age murmured lazily. "Story of our lives,” Sebastian responded as he yawned. “Might as well just head to bed." The channel flicked to a movie and Vanessa quickly stopped him. "Let's see this,” she said, clutching tightly his arm. "Give this one a try.”Sebastian kissed her forehead, dropping the remote. "Alright, then.”The movie played on but neither of them really watched it. A cliche romance movie that sent them scrolling through their phones

DEAD BODIES AND BULLET HOLES 2His eyes never left the body, his hands never left the steering. He watched as water streamed down steadily from its side, spilling onto the tarmac. The firefighters and police officers struggled as they dragged it fully onto the bridge, their nose scrunching in disgust. The rug tied around it dug deep into the material, marking the outline of the body. “Sir," the officer called again, his voice firmer now. He dropped a hand on the door. “You need to turn back now, sir." Damien barely heard him. His gaze shifted from the wet bag to the other men standing behind the tape. He looked past the flashing cameras, reporters murmuring into microphones, police lights that coated the bridge in an array of bright red and blue–then he saw him. Jim Harper. Commissioner of police.The man stood behind the tape, hands shoved in his coat pockets. His white moustaches twitched as he turned away from the bag, bald head glistening under the lights. He glanced in Damie

DRAWN LINESDamien parked the car in front of the hotel and handed the keys to the valet. Elara leading him this time, they both made their way into the building, up the elevator and into the penthouse. They walked inside, the cold air from the air-conditioning stinging their skin as the door closed softly behind them. “Oh, what a day," Elara groaned as she stretched. She slipped her purse from her shoulders and dropped it onto the console table without looking back. Her heels came off I'm one go and she walked barefoot into the kitchen. The light came on automatically, its golden glow spilling over the marble Island. She stopped there and rested her palm on the cool top as she exhaled. Damien stood by the door, back relaxed against the wall as he watched her. He noticed the way her shoulders slumped as she moved. The way her cherry lips glistened under the light. The way her hair flowed naturally behind her. “Did you bring the food with…” She paused as she turned and found Damien