Amara stood in Darius' living room, surrounded by quiet luxury. Everything about his life whispered power—carefully hidden, expertly controlled.
"You okay?" he asked.
She nodded too quickly.
When he kissed her, she let herself sink into it, because the truth would ruin everything. Because for once, she wanted something that wasn't a mission.
Later, alone in the bathroom, she stared at her reflection.
"I'm sorry," she whispered—to him, to herself, to the love she was already betraying.
Her phone buzzed again.
It's time.
Amara locked the screen, heart pounding.
The first lie had already been told.
And there would be many more.