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After the elevator doors close, he reaches out and hits the button, bringing it to a stop.“Come back to my room,” he says, voice low, each word weighted.There’s no mistaking his meaning.

Before I can respond, his lips are on mine.Letting my hands rest lightly on his chest, I kiss him back.It’s calculated, deliberate.Glancing up at the camera blinking in the corner, I’m certain Eamon’s watching.I can only imagine how he’s reacting.

Cian finally pulls away.“You’re full of surprises, Aoife.”

I let out a soft, breathy laugh as I reach around him, pressing the button to restart the elevator.A long moment later, the elevator slows to a stop on Cian’s floor, the doors sliding open behind him, but he doesn’t step out.Instead, he lingers, his gaze locked on mine, dark with desire.

“You sure you won’t come with me?”he asks.“Seems like a shame to end our evening here.”

“Tempting,” I murmur.“But I think I’ll have to pass.I have to work the early shift tomorrow.”

“Another time, then.”

“Goodnight, Cian,” I say as the doors slowly slide shut, sealing him on his floor.

As the elevator ascends, I slip my keycard from my pocket, swiping it for access to the penthouse.In the silence, I touch my lips, my mind racing.

Cian thinks he’s smart.He thinks he’s clever.

But he’s nothing compared to me.

Let the games begin.

Eamon

I stand justinside the penthouse doors, fists clenched tight.My mind replays the scene in the elevator, the way Cian’s hands lingered on her, the way she kissed him back.

Calculated.It was fucking calculated.

But that doesn’t matter.It doesn’t fucking matter.

She’s been gone all day.Didn’t tell me where she was going or what she was doing.I willingly let her walk out the door, knowing she’d be spending the afternoon with Cian.But seeing his hands on her.His lips against hers ignites something primal in me.A fury I can’t contain.

The handle turns a second before the door swings open, and Aoife steps inside.She stops short the second she sees me.Her expression falters with mild surprise, maybe the slightest hint of guilt.But she recovers quickly.

“I didn’t know if you’d be home yet,” she says, shrugging off her jacket like nothing’s wrong.

I don’t move.“Where the hell have you been?”My voice is low, barely restrained.

She lets out a soft sigh, tossing her purse onto the counter.“Out.”

Her flippant attitude grates against the edge of my restraint.“Out?”I take a step toward her, gaze burning.“You were gone all fucking day, Aoife.And I saw the kiss.”

She shrugs.“It was nothing.”

“Nothing?”My jaw tightens as I grab her wrist before she can walk past me.“You kissed Cian in my fucking elevator, and I’m supposed to believe it was nothing?”

She yanks at her arm.“Let go of me.”

“Not until you tell me what the fuck is going on.”

She glares up at me.“Cian brought me to a meeting.Business for Ruairi.”

My grip tightens involuntarily.“You went to a Syndicate meeting?Without telling me?”

She scoffs.“I didn’t realize I needed your permission.”

I inhale sharply through my nose, temper dangerously close to snapping.“This isn’t about permission.It’s about the fact that you went to a meeting involving the Syndicate with no protection.Do you have any idea how reckless that was?”