Chapter One Hundred and Forty-Four
Markus didn't remember the drive.
Only the moment the gates of Asli's Villa slid open before him, smooth and obedient, as if nothing in the world was wrong. That told him enough. Whatever had happened, whatever blood had been spilled, Asli hadn't spoken a word to her people yet.
Security nodded him through. Nobody pressed the alarms and neither did anyone raise their weapons.
Good. Too good.
He parked in front of her apartment and was already moving before the engine went cold.
The building closed around him as soon as he stepped inside. Faint voices drifted from the sitting hall. Matilda's laugh, abruptly cut short, followed by the low murmur of her nanny. Markus didn't register any of it. He didn't slow down, didn't even turn, or didn't notice the way Matilda's face drained of color the moment her eyes landed on him. She had never seen Markus like this.
No one had.
