Chapter 10 · Borrowed Lovers

Mara's hands were still shaking when she zip-tied Kade's wrists to the surgical table. Not because she thought he'd snap again. Because ten seconds ago he'd been about to cut her throat, and now he was looking at her like she was the only real thing in the room.

"Gala's in four hours," she said. Her voice came out flat. Professional. "You remember what you said, or did that get wiped too?"

Kade tested the ties. Didn't pull. Just flexed his fingers like he was checking they still worked. "I said you have to be there. Oryx upper-city reception. Black-tie, invitation-only, the kind of place where they scan your DNA at the door." He met her eyes. "You go in as my plus-one, or you don't go in at all."

Mara leaned against the wall and pressed her palm to her forehead. Her skull was pounding. "So the plan is I walk into a corporate fortress on the arm of a guy who just tried to kill me, smile pretty, and hope nobody notices the blood on my jacket."

"The plan," Kade said quietly, "is we sell it. Hard.