Page 243 of Love Me in the Dark

---

Another pause.

“Everything.”

Another unspoken question about my intentions and why I’d bring myself to dig for more information.

“I don’t know why.” I admit to the only man besides Ezra who knows where I bury the skeletons in my closet. “But I think she’s… pivotal.”

Then Asher nods. “Of course.”

I pass the tablet back and look out the window again. The lights of the city blur, meaningless. All of it is nothing. Noise. Flash. Distraction meant to keep us mindless and confused as the days tick by.

“Asher.” I tap my fingers against my thigh, needing to steady my suddenly racing heart. “I want to know every single detail of her life by the time we land.”

“Yes, sir.” He’s focused on the screen, no doubt having already started acquiring the information before I even asked.

Proficient and efficient.

While I watch the city pass around us, I can’t help the breath that catches in my chest.

I’m leaving.

Right when I found… Her.

This woman who doesn’t flinch away from questioning her own existence.

She might be the first thing that actually makes sense in a long fucking time.

I don’t know her.

Not yet.

But I will.

If it’s the last thing I do.

2

IVY

It always starts with the breathing.

Fast. Heavy. Angry.

Some corporate asshole is already yelling directly into my ear before I even finish logging into the system. I haven’t had a full cup of coffee yet, but apparently I’m supposed to carry the weight of this man’s digital meltdown on my half-asleep shoulders.

“Ma’am, are you even listening to me? I’ve been transferred three times already and your software is still broken!”

I keep my voice level. Soft. Not sweet. Sweet gets you groped over the phone. Calm gets you through the call. Angry gets you fired and blacklisted from every tech support company in the city.

“I’m listening,” I say. “And I can help. I just need remote access first so that I can access your system.”

Silence.

Just him breathing like a bull about to charge, making sure I know he’s still angry. Then the click. Authorization granted.

Finally.

Good boy.

---