Boots crunched on the gravel above him.Caspian tried to lift his head but the world tilted sideways. He pressed his good palm against the dry ground, ready to fight with whatever strength was left in him. If they had come to finish him, they would have to work for it."Boss!"The voice came from the road. Then another. Then many, running down the slope, stones rolling ahead of their feet."Boss, over here!""He's alive! He's moving!"Four men in black suits surrounded him in a half circle. Their jackets were covered in dust and their faces were tight with fear. One of them dropped to his knees beside him."Boss, what's wrong? What happened to you?"Caspian squinted at him. Boss? He had been called many things in Tonopah. Poor man. Useless husband. Nobody had ever called him Boss."Don't touch my arm," he rasped."Yes, Boss. Sorry, Boss.""Atlas will send men." That was what Sir Titan had said that morning. Caspian had said no.Apparently, some people didn't listen.He lifted his eyes.

Cordelia stepped out to the balcony of the east wing and shut the glass door behind her. She took a deep breath, fixed her face into a hurting one, and dialed.It rang twice."Cordelia?" The voice on the line was deep and commanding. Even over the phone, it carried the weight of a man who sent people to prison for a living. "Why are you calling at this hour? Is everything alright?""Papa." Her voice broke at once. She was good at it. "Papa, I need your help.""What happened? Are you crying?""It's Caspian, Papa."A short silence. "Titan's grandson?""Yes." She sniffed loudly. "You know how much I love him. You know I have never looked at any other man since we were young. And that woman, Graycie, the one who left him at the altar, who slept with another man and even planned to have him killed... Papa, she betrayed him in the worst way.""I heard about the case." Garrett Newman's tone sharpened. "The police sent a report to my office this morning. Attempted murder, conspiracy, illegal f

"Give me a minute," Cordelia said, glancing at her phone. "I just remembered someone I have to call."She passed Jett back to Caspian and walked to the corner of the office, turning her back to him. She dialed without looking at the screen, like the number was one she knew by heart."Papa, it's me." Her voice was soft and low, but not low enough. "Yes, I'm with him now... No, he has a reason. It's actually a good one... Please, Papa. Can you lift the ban on her bail? Just for today."Caspian's brows shot up.The ban.She had said it so lightly, as if she was asking someone to pass her the salt. And somewhere across the city, a man had picked up his phone and said yes.He almost laughed. It was the kind of laugh that comes when someone lifts a curtain and shows you the whole room.He kept his face blank, adjusted Jett on his arm, and sent Atlas one word.Come.Atlas walked in less than a minute later. He looked around the room, saw Cordelia with her back turned and the phone against her

Neither of them said a word on the way up.They climbed the stairs side by side, her bare feet silent on the carpet and his shirt hanging loose from her shoulders. Neither of them spoke, they didn't even look at each other, it was as if something unseen had taken them both by the hand and was leading them down the same hallway.The door of his room opened under his palm.It was dark and cool inside, the curtains were drawn and the faint light from the corridor illuminated the floor in its golden light. Cordelia stepped in first, Caspian followed and pushed the door shut behind him.The click of the lock was very loud.She turned around slowly as the shirt slid off her shoulder. He reached out with his left hand and caught the collar, and for a moment they just stood there, close enough to hear each other breathe."Caspian," she whispered."Hmm?""If you want to stop...""I don't."Her fingers found the hem of his trousers and she tugged, while he gathered the torn silk at her waist.Hi

"Well, well," Orion said, strolling toward them with his hands in his pockets. "Look who came to visit."Nobody answered him.Caspian crossed the lobby in four long strides and stopped so close to Orion that the other man had to tilt his head back. His voice dropped to a hiss, low enough that only Orion could hear it."Outside. Now."Orion raised an eyebrow. "Here? In front of everyone?""This is a police headquarters, you idiot. Outside.""Gladly." Orion's smile didn't move. "I was hoping you would ask."Caspian grabbed his sleeve with his left hand and dragged him toward the glass doors. Orion let himself be pulled, still smiling, like a man being led to a party. The officers at the counter looked up. A woman near the bench gasped. Nancy Rose stepped aside from the path without a word, her briefcase held against her chest."Sir!" Atlas's voice came from behind them, quick and panicked. He ran to catch up. "Sir, please. Think about what you are doing."Caspian didn't stop."Sir, this