CHAPTER 43 — THE LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND LOYALTY
The storm outside the penthouse had quieted, but inside, the tension grew heavier than thunderclouds. Elena sat on the edge of the grand velvet sofa, her hands clasped tightly together, her breath shallow. The events of the previous night replayed in her mind like a broken movie: Lydia's venomous warning, Marcus' desperate confession, Adrian's fists clenching in barely contained rage, and the chilling revelation that someone from their inner circle wanted her out of the Kane world—permanently.
Her heartbeat fluttered like a trapped bird.
The elevator chimed softly.
She straightened, sensing him before she saw him.
Adrian stepped out, dressed in a dark tailored suit that sharpened the cold lines of his expression. His hair was still damp from the shower he'd taken at the company's private gym, and drops traced the hard angle of his jaw. A dangerous silence wrapped around him like a second skin.
