The heavy doors of the penthouse suite clicked shut with a finality that made Verina's skin crawl. Silas didn't say a word as he stripped off his tuxedo jacket, tossing it onto the sofa. He looked exhausted, the shadows under his eyes deeper than they had been at the start of the night.
"Go to bed, Verina," he said, his back to her. "We've had enough drama for one evening."
"Is that what you call it?" Verina asked, her hand clutching the USB drive hidden in the folds of her dress. "Drama? You stood there and watched Arthur mock my family while you knew the truth about him."
Silas turned, his expression a wall of stone. "I know many things, Verina. Most of which would keep you awake for the rest of your life if I shared them. Now, go. I won't tell you again."
Verina didn't argue. She needed him to stay in the living room. She needed the privacy of her own suite to see what Julian had given her. She hurried to her room, locking the door behind her with a trembling hand.
She pulled out her laptop, the glow of the screen feeling like a spotlight in the dark room. She plugged in the USB drive. Her heart hammered against her ribs as the folders appeared.
There were dozens of files, mostly technical schematics and financial ledgers. But one folder was labeled: C.V. The Final Log.
She clicked it. A video file appeared. It was grainy security footage from a rainy night ten years ago. A black car was parked on a deserted street. A girl named Clara was standing by the driver's side window, looking terrified. She was arguing with someone inside the car.
Verina leaned closer to the screen. The person in the driver's seat wasn't Arthur. It was a man she didn't recognize, but he was wearing a ring with a very specific crest—a crest she had seen before.
Suddenly, the video cut to static. A message appeared in red text across the screen:
THE DEBT ISN'T MONEY. THE DEBT IS THE TRUTH. FIND THE ARCHIVE.
A cold chill ran down Verina's spine. Julian wasn't just giving her information; he was leading her into a maze.
A soft sound at her door made her jump. She slammed the laptop shut just as the handle turned. Silas had a key.
The door swung open. Silas stood there, his shirt unbuttoned at the collar, looking at her with an intensity that made her breath hitch. He didn't look angry anymore. He looked hungry.
"I told you to go to bed," he murmured, stepping into the room. The scent of bourbon and sandalwood followed him. "Why are you sitting in the dark with a laptop, Verina? Are you writing your memoirs already?"
"I couldn't sleep," she whispered, her heart racing so hard she was sure he could see it through her dress.
Silas walked toward her, stopping only when he was inches away. He reached out, his thumb grazing her lower lip. "You're a terrible liar. You have been ever since the docks. What are you hiding, little bird?"
He leaned down, his lips ghosting over hers. Verina knew she should pull away. She knew she should hate him for the contract and the lies. But as his hand slid into her hair, pulling her head back to expose her throat, she felt a surge of heat that made her knees weak.
"I'm not hiding anything," she gasped against his mouth.
"Liars get punished," Silas whispered, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin of her neck. "And I think it's time you learned that the Vane name comes with more than just a bank account. It comes with a master."
He pulled her into a kiss that was anything but a business transaction. It was raw, possessive, and fueled by a decade of hidden pain. For a moment, Verina forgot about the USB drive. She forgot about the accident. She only felt the power of the man holding her.
But as Silas pulled her closer, she felt the hard edge of the laptop against her hip. The truth was right there, inches away. And she knew that if she didn't find the 'Archive,' this kiss wouldn't be the start of a romance. It would be the start of her destruction.