KAEL
I hadn't sat still in hours.
One second I was inspecting a prototype for a weaponized satellite system, the next I was half-listening to a logistics report about a black site transfer in Croatia. It was the kind of chaos only someone like me could command. I didn't mind. It kept my mind from drifting... to her.
Aria.
Sylas.
I tried not to think about what might be happening between them. Tried not to imagine her smiling at him the way she used to smile at me. Or worse, needing him.
I left my phone in the conference vault on purpose. No distractions. No weakness.
But even without it, her name kept echoing in my head. That look she gave me when I left, like she was slipping through my fingers and I was letting her go.
Fuck.
I almost booked the next flight back just to remind Sylas whose name she moaned louder.
When I finally stepped out of the last negotiation, one of my guards rushed up to me.
"Sir. Niko's been trying to reach you."
I stilled.
"Why?"
