Page 103 of Wilde and Deadly

His temples throbbed. He needed two Advil, a nap, and a time machine to undo the last ten minutes. Instead, he got Rowan staring at the floor like she was already blaming herself and Sabin muttering in French like he was debating murder.

Yeah. That felt about right.

Rowan sighed. “I knew today was going to be shit, but even I underestimated.”

“Yeah.” And to think he’d woken up feeling rested. He dragged a hand down his face. “Let’s go.”

twenty-six

The penthouse was half-finished,half-forgotten.

Cold concrete floors, exposed steel beams, and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked a skyline Frost probably owned half of. No furniture, just a single flickering work light in the corner and a few crates that served as a makeshift table.

The elevator had been shut off. One way up. One way down.

Which meant Sully wasn’t expecting company.

Atlas Frost sat in the middle of the room, tied to a chair, looking entirely too comfortable for a man in his position.

He grinned as they entered, all ease and amusement.

“Ah, the cavalry.”

Sullivan was leaning against the far wall, arms crossed, looking bored as hell. But Davey didn’t miss the tension in his stance.

Not relaxed. Coiled. Waiting.

He ignored it for now, stepping closer to loom over Frost. “You’re gonna start talking.”

Frost tilted his head, all lazy amusement. “Well, that depends. Are you actually going to ask me something interesting?”

Davey opened his mouth, but Rowan beat him to it. “Rue. Why was she at your gala?”

Frost’s gaze flicked to her, smirk widening into something slow and knowing. “Ah. The professional.”

Davey caught the smallest twitch of Rowan’s fingers at her sides.

Frost chuckled. “Or do you prefer Vesper? That’s the name on the contract, isn’t it?” His gaze slid toward Davey, and his smile became wolfish. “The one you accepted to kill him.”

Rowan didn’t blink. Didn’t flinch. “Nice try, but he already knows. Now answer the question.”

Frost’s smirk didn’t falter. “Your sister is a brilliant, fascinating, gorgeous woman. Why wouldn’t I invite her?”

Rowan’s jaw tightened. “You funded her expedition.”

Frost sighed dramatically, shaking his head. “You make it sound so nefarious.”

“Because it is.”

A thoughtful tilt of his head. “Believe it or not, I have a vested interest in keeping this planet habitable. I subsidize a lot of scientific endeavors.”

Rowan crossed her arms. “So, what? That’s just your little charity project?”

Frost’s eyes glinted with amusement. “Oh, I wouldn’t call it little. But yes, philanthropy is important to me.”

Davey cut in now, his patience thinning. “Cut the bullshit, Frost. Is Liam working for you?”

Laughter. The sound bounced off the bare walls, grating. “Liam Wilde? Please. That boy scout wouldn’t know how to be corrupt if I handed him an instruction manual.”

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