Just Once

Chapter 18-Zayden

The London skyline stretched out before me, the city lights twinkling against the dark expanse of the Thames. I stood on the balcony of my suite, nursing a glass of whiskey as the cool night air wrapped around me.

I should've been thinking about Marcus Lang. About the auction tomorrow night. About The Society and the intricate web of lies and power they'd woven.

But all I could think about was her.

Sofia Volkov.

I swirled the whiskey in my glass, the amber liquid catching the light. She'd said it didn't change anything, that it couldn't. But the way she'd looked at me, the way her lips trembled against mine, told a different story.

I didn't believe her for a second.

The memory of her apology, her arms around me, her vulnerability—it was burned into my mind. Sofia wasn't the type to admit weakness, not even to herself. The fact that she'd come after me, that she'd let her guard down, even for a moment, meant more than she'd ever admit.

And yet, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that I'd crossed a line.

The knock on my door came just as I finished the last of my drink. I set the glass down and crossed the room, half expecting Sofia to be on the other side.

But it wasn't her. It was Aurelian, my second-in-command.

"We've got a problem," he said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.

"Of course we do," I muttered, closing the door behind him. "What now?"

"Lang's auction," he said, handing me a tablet. "It's bigger than we thought. Not just art or rare collectibles—he's selling information. Classified information."

I scanned the screen, my jaw tightening as I read the details. Names, locations, deals—things The Society would kill to keep under wraps.

"This isn't just an auction," I said, my voice low. "It's leverage."

Aurelian nodded. "And it's drawing some heavy hitters. Politicians, CEOs, crime lords—you name it. If Lang gets away with this, he'll have enough dirt to make himself untouchable."

My mind raced. This was exactly the kind of opportunity we needed to dismantle The Society. But it also raised the stakes. If we weren't careful, we'd be walking into a trap.

"Do we have an in?" I asked.

"Sort of," Aurelian said, hesitating. "Lang's got a thing for high-profile couples. Power dynamics. That's how he decides who gets a seat at the table."

I smirked, the pieces falling into place. "And the media's been having a field day with me and Sofia lately."

"Exactly," he said. "You two play the part, and you're in."

I leaned back against the wall, rubbing a hand over my jaw. Sofia wasn't going to like this. But then again, she didn't have to.

"She'll agree," I said, more to myself than to Aurelian.

"Sure about that?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"She doesn't have a choice," I replied.

Aurelian gave me a skeptical look but didn't argue. "I'll handle the logistics. You just make sure you're both ready."

He left, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I knew Sofia would push back. She'd hate the idea of pretending to be anything more than reluctant allies. But deep down, I also knew she wouldn't walk away. She was too smart, too driven to let an opportunity like this slip through her fingers.

And if I was being honest, the thought of playing her partner—even just for show—wasn't entirely unappealing.

I poured myself another drink, the burn of the whiskey grounding me. Tomorrow night was going to be dangerous. Lang wasn't stupid, and The Society had eyes everywhere.

But as I stared out at the city, my thoughts kept drifting back to Sofia. To the way her lips had felt against mine. To the fire in her eyes when she pushed me away, and the vulnerability when she pulled me back.

She was a puzzle I couldn't stop trying to solve, a storm I couldn't resist walking into.

And maybe, just maybe, she was worth the risk.

Tomorrow, we'd face Lang. We'd face The Society.

But tonight, I let myself hope.