MK shrugged off his jacket and casually tossed it on a nearby sofa. There was no one around, no staff, no guards, just the two of them and their own reflections.

She walked in, her eyes scanning the room not with awe but with sharp focus. She was taking mental notes of the entrances, exits, cameras, and places where she might not be seen. The fancy penthouse got a chuckle out of her; AD might own a big mansion, but it didn’t compare to this level of luxury. She had always wanted this kind of wealth, something extravagant that really stood out. The big windows provided stunning views of the city skyline, showcasing everything she’d ever dreamed of.

MK watched her with a grin, thinking she was checking for security and vulnerabilities. In reality, she was just enjoying how posh everything looked.

He was drawn to smart women, but dangerous ones intrigued him even more.

"Come here," MK said softly.

She turned slowly, letting her dark hair fall over her shoulder like a seductive curtain. He stepped closer, each move deliberate, like a predator zeroing in on its target.

He reached out, brushing his thumb across her lower lip, a tender gesture that stirred something between them. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"You know," he said with a smirk, "I don’t usually bring women up here."

She raised an eyebrow, playful. "Lucky me?"

"Nope." His playful grin turned sharper. "Lucky me."

She laughed gently, leaning into him as if it were a calculated move. His hand trailed down her spine and rested at her waist, drawing them even closer.

"You know you’re messing with something dangerous, right?" MK said quietly. "You’re way too clever for your own good. Too aware of what’s going on. Too calm about this whole thing."

Her heart banged once, hard, like a warning bell.

"I like dangerous stuff," she shot back, her voice low but playful.

MK paused for a second, taken aback. That answer, too smooth and confident, gave him a thrill he couldn’t shake off.

Then he tightened his grip on her waist and pulled her in closer, kissing her more fiercely than before. She kissed him back with all the right moves, playing her part perfectly. But behind her soft lips was a sharp mind racing faster than he could handle.

"MK wanted the girl alive. He wanted to keep the devices under wraps. He had his suspicions about AD. He thought I was on his side."

He wasn’t totally wrong. But he wasn’t totally right, either.

Her loyalty didn’t belong to MK or AD or even the organization.

Her loyalty was all about survival. And to survive, she had to stay three steps ahead of men who thought they could control her.

MK finally pulled back from the kiss, breathing heavily, his forehead resting against hers, both of them trying to catch their breath.

"You know," he said quietly, "I have a feeling you’re hiding something from me."

She shot him a sweet smile. "Why do you think that?"

"Just a hunch." His expression turned serious. "You seem way too relaxed when everything’s going nuts. Too at ease with blood on your hands."

She held his gaze, not blinking. "So do you."

MK’s grin widened slowly. "That’s exactly what makes you so interesting to me."

He moved away from her, striding over to the bar to pour two glasses of whiskey. He handed one to her, watching as her fingers wrapped around the glass.

"You ever think about," MK said, taking a sip and savoring the rich flavor, "why I keep AD around? Why do I let him mess up time and again?"

She shrugged. "You like having someone to blame."

MK laughed softly. "Not really." He tapped his glass against hers.

"I keep him around because he’s easy to predict. He’s scared all the time. Simple to play. Just the right pawn for my plans."

She took a slow sip to hide her reaction.

"If he messes up this job," MK said casually, "I won’t even have to off him."

She looked up sharply. "No?"

MK leaned back against the bar, swirling his drink with a smirk.

"I’ll just make him vanish," he said lightly. "That’s worse than death for a man like him."

Her fingers tightened around the glass, feeling the cool surface beneath her grip. "Vanish? Like you did with him?" The name brought up a flood of memories, reminding her of someone important. MK had completely wiped him from existence years ago. The thought made her feel a mix of frustration and sadness, adding to the tension in the room.

MK nodded, then noticed her grip tightening, and his smile grew wider.

"You care about AD?"

She paused for just a split second.

MK noticed it right away. He pushed off the bar and walked toward her again, stopping close enough to feel her breath.

"Or..." he said softly, "do you care more about where you fit in my world?"

She turned to glance at him, totally unfazed, like she couldn’t care less. "Do I look like someone who cares about anyone?" she shot back.

MK watched her closely, trying to read her.

"No," he said quietly. "That’s what I like about you."

She didn’t reply, just held her ground.

MK reached out and brushed her hair behind her ear, doing it slowly and with a kind of intimacy that felt charged.

"You’re staying with me tonight," he said, making it clear it wasn’t really up for discussion.

Her lips lifted into a soft, willing smile.

"Yeah, of course. That’s why I’m here, right?" she shot back, keeping things light while her mind was racing with plans.

In her head, she was already scheming.

MK trusts me way more than AD does. He hasn’t caught on to my real game yet. He genuinely wants me here with him. Sweet deal.

Because when the moment hits, and everything goes south, MK will never see the knife coming. And she would walk away untouched, completely unaware of the trouble closing in on her.