The victory at the casino should have felt sweet, but Aurora couldn't shake the feeling that she was dancing with a predator far more dangerous than Silas Vane. Back at the estate, the tension between her and Xavier was thick enough to cut with a knife.
"You did well tonight," Xavier said, pouring two glasses of dark amber liquid in his study. He handed one to her, his fingers lingering against hers for a second too long.
"I did what I had to do to clear my debt," Aurora replied, her voice steady despite the flutter in her chest. "But don't think this makes us partners, Xavier. I'm still just a strategist under contract."
Xavier laughed, a low, melodic sound that didn't reach his cold eyes. "Partners? No, Aurora. Partners trust each other. You and I? We just understand the cost of power."
He walked over to a hidden wall panel and tapped a code. The wall slid back to reveal a collection of files and photographs that made Aurora's blood run cold. They weren't just business documents; they were surveillance photos of her—from her time in prison, her first day at Phoenix Holdings, even her father's funeral.
"You've been watching me for years," Aurora whispered, the glass trembling in her hand. "Why?"
Xavier stepped into her personal space, his shadow engulfing her. "Because your father didn't just build Thorne Industries. He stole something from my family twenty years ago. Something I've spent my entire life trying to get back. I didn't let you out of prison because I felt sorry for you. I let you out because you were the only one who could find the key to what he hid."
The revelation hit Aurora like a physical blow. Her father, the man she idolized, had a dark past with the Black family. Suddenly, the "Devil's Bargain" felt a lot more personal.
"What did he take?" she demanded.
"The 'Lazarus Code'," Xavier replied, his face inches from hers. "A software so powerful it can bypass any global security system. Your father hid it in a place only a Thorne can access. And you, Aurora, are going to open that door for me."