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“And?” he says, with enough arrogance to make me want to punch him. Nate hates showing his hand. His manipulations are supposed to look like logic, not emotion.
“And walls become cages when you stop asking the person inside whether they want one.”
Jace adds, “You can’t keep us safe by shutting out the world.”
That lands. I don’t say anything because nothing will help if he chooses to close off again.
Jace waits for a retort, then looks at me while he digs the heel of one palm into the edge of the table. He’s frustrated—at Nate, at the situation, at the fact that we’re standing in a glass box with every light in the building shining in and nowhere to hide.
“Call her,” Nate says.
“Now?” Jace asks.
Nate checks the time. “She should be finishing the walkthrough.”
Jace is already reaching for his jacket. “I’ll go get her.”
“She has the driver.”
“And now she has me.” Nate opens his mouth, but I shake my head, letting him know it's useless to argue. Jace smiles, kissing my cheek as he walks past. “This is why you’re my favorite, Big Guy.”
“You said that to Nate yesterday.”
“People can change their minds.”
The door shuts behind him.
Nate stares at it.
“He’s not your favorite.”
“Jealous?”
His glare finally looks more like himself.
The walkthrough runs forty minutes over, which means by the time I step outside, my feet hurt, my phone is nearly dead, and the driver still hasn't arrived.
I check the time again, debating whether to call the car service or just order a ride myself.
The vendor operates out of a converted warehouse in Dogpatch, all polished concrete, oversized windows, and exposed steel beams. Inside, it’s sleek and expensive. Outside, the block is quieter than I expected for this time of day, most of the surrounding buildings already emptying out. I shift the folder tucked beneath my arm and step closer to the curb.
“Always waiting on one of Nathaniel’s men.”
My head drops because you have got to be fucking kidding me.
I turn to see Adrian Cross leaning against a black sedan maybe twenty feet away, one hand tucked casually into his pocket like he just happened to materialize outside the exact vendor Nate sent me to.
“Mr. Cross. Still showing up places nobody invited you.”
He pushes away from the car and starts toward me. “You make coincidence sound criminal.”
“You showing up while I was shopping was a coincidence.” I glance around the block once before looking back at him. “You showing up outside a vendor I’ve never visited before is stalking.”
That earns me a quiet laugh. “Still sharp.”
“Also still not interested.” I turn back toward the building, but his footsteps follow anyway.
“Miss Harper, you haven’t even allowed me to tell you about the position at Obsidian.”
