<b>Chapter </b><b>59 </b>
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The <b>tea </b>had <b>gone </b>cold by the time I strolled back to the open–air terrace. Ian and Ethan were <b>still </b>locked in their verbal chess match<b>, </b>though the atmosphere had shifted from openly hostile <b>to </b><b>warily </b>civil. I slid back into my seat, crossing my legs and leaning back.
Ethan shot me a questioning nce. I responded with a slight shrug that said <i>nothing </i><i>interesting </i><i>happened</i><b><i>. </i></b>His eyes lingered on mine for a beat longer than necessary before he turned back <b>to </b>Ian.
“We’re done here,” Ethan said, rising from his chair. “I believe our business <b>is </b>concluded.”
I stretchednguidly. “Great timing. I’m starving.”
Ian’s eyes narrowed as he studied me. Something in his expression had changed–a new wariness that hadn’t been there before. He was looking, at me the way people look at snakes they’ve discovered in their garden–with a mixture of fascination and dread.
“Let’s get you something to eat,” Ethan agreed smoothly, cing a hand on the small of my back as
we turned to leave.
We hadn’t made it three steps when the unmistakable sound of guns being cocked filled the air. Ian’s men had formed a loose circle around us, their weapons raised.
“Is this how you conclude business in Venezu?” Ethan asked, his voice deadly quiet.
Ian spread his hands in a gesture of mock helplessness. “My men are simply concerned about your safety, Mr. Haxton. There are many dangers in these parts.”
“The only danger I see is standing right in front of me,” Ethan replied coldly.
I remained perfectly still, mentally calcting how many of Ian’s men I could take down before they could react. The answer was pleasingly high.
Ian studied Ethan for a long moment, then flicked his gaze to me. Something in my expression must have unsettled him because he abruptly signaled his men to lower their weapons.
“You have three days,” Ethan reminded him, the warning clear in his voice.
“You should choose yourpanions more carefully, Mr. Haxton,” Ian said, his eyes still on me. “Some are more dangerous than they appear.”
<b>7:57 </b>Fri<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>19 </b>
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Ethan’s hand pressed more firmly against my back as he guided me away.
We were barely back in our convoy <b>of </b>vehicles when a massive explosion ripped through the air behind us. The ground shook, and a plume of ck smoke billowed into the sky. Looking back, I could seen’spound engulfed in mes.
“What the hell was that?” Connor eximed, twisting in his seat to stare at the inferno.
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Ethan didn’t even nce in the rearview mirror. “Electrical malfunction,” he said calmly. “Old wiring, faulty generators. These remotepounds are notorious for spontaneousbustion.”
Connor shot him an incredulous look. “Sir, that was no electrical fire. That was-”
“An unfortunate ident,” Ethan cut him off, his tone brooking no argument. His eyes met mine in
the mirror. “Wouldn’t you agree, Miss Morgan?”
“Looks like an Independence Day fireworks disy to me,” I replied with a slight smirk. “Speaking of which, I’ve never seen proper fireworks. The ones in Cloud City are pathetic.‘
“I’ll have to remedy that,” Ethan said, his lips quirking upward. “New York has an excellent Fourth of July celebration.”
Connor kept ncing between us, clearly baffled by our casual conversation in the wake of what had just happened. “Sir, people are going to assume we had something to do with that explosion.”
“Innocent until proven guilty, Connor,” I said, reaching for a bottle of water from the car’s mini- fridge. “And since we were already driving away when it happened, we have an alibi.”
Connor’s frown deepened. “How are you so calm about this?”
“Because there’s nothing to be worried about,” Ethan answered for me. “We were nowhere near the
st.”
The rest of the journey passed in rtive silence. Connor kept checking his phone, presumably monitoring local reactions to the explosion, while Ethan drove with the rxed confidence of
someone who hadn’t just narrowly escaped a potential ambush,
Back at the hotel, Ethan escorted me to the private elevator that led directly to our floor.
“I’d like to discuss some private matters with Miss Morgan,” Ethan told Connor once we reached the suite. “Why don’t you check on our security arrangements?”
7:57 <b>Fri</b><b>, </b><i>Sep </i><b>19 </b>
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Connor hesitated, clearly wanting to say more about the explosion<b>, </b>but nodded and retreated.
“You’reing in?” I asked, raising an eyebrow <b>as </b>Ethan followed me into the suite.
“I thought you might appreciate thepany,” he replied. “Those Apex mercenaries could still be
around.”
I hid a smile. It was a convenient excuse, but not an unwee one.
His phone rang <b>just </b>as we settled in the sitting area. Connor’s voice came through clearly on speakerphone.
“Sir, I’ve been analyzing the situation. Given the timing and precision, I believe Apex Tactical Group might be responsible for the explosion. They’ve been tracking us since we arrived, and they’re known
for this kind of-”
“Your brain works, Connor,” Ethan interrupted, “just not very much.”
I stifled augh, but it quickly turned into a wince as a sudden cramping pain shot through my
abdomen. Shit. Not now.
“Are you alright?” Ethan asked, immediately noticing my difort.
“I’m fine,” I lied, shifting ufortably. “Just… female troubles.”
Understanding dawned on his face. “Ah.”
<b>I </b>grimaced as another cramp twisted through me. I’d forgotten how bad the first day could be. My body had been so finely tuned in my previous life that I’d rarely experienced this level of difort.
Ethan pressed a button on his phone. “Connor, I need you to make a purchase. The nearest pharmacy
should have what we need.”
I raised an eyebrow at him, surprised by his directness.
<b>As </b>Connor stammered his acknowledgment on the other end of the line, Ethan moved to the minibar and poured me a ss of water. He turned up the room’s thermostat, then grabbed a throw nket
from the couch.
“This might take a while,” he said, handing me the nket. “Make yourselffortable.”
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