Ethan Storm’s Dark Awakening novel Chapter 29

Sierra couldn’t stop pacing. Her stilettos echoed sharply against the polished marble floors. Her lips curled into a smile, not the sweet kind—no, this one was smug, predatory.

“Finally,” she muttered to herself, “someone who knows what the hell they’re doing.”

She paused in front of the tall window, staring at her reflection in the glass. The bruises along her jaw had faded to a soft lavender, almost beautiful if you tilted your head. She ran her fingers down her cheek gently, tilting her chin.

“You hear that, Marcus?” she said to her own image, voice laced with venom. “Maxime Trent’s in charge now. You can crawl back into your feelings and cry yourself to sleep.”

Her hand reached for the wine glass on the side table. The red liquid shimmered under the chandelier’s glow as she raised it in mock celebration.

“To leverage,” she toasted with a soft chuckle. “To competence. To men who know how to win.”

****

Ethan stepped out of the restaurant, the warm chatter and clinking glasses fading behind him as the door swung shut. The cold air hit him like a slap, and he welcomed it. He pulled his coat tighter around his shoulders and took a steadying breath.

His mind was on Alice.

The stubborn line of her jaw. The fire in her eyes.

“She’s going back to the Morgans?” he muttered under his breath. “Alone?”

He shook his head, half in admiration, half in worry.

He respected her decision… but he didn’t like it.

His phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

He hesitated for a second, thumb hovering over the green icon before tapping it. “Hello?”

“Mr. Storm!” a hushed, excited voice came through. “It’s Theo. From Blackhawk.”

Ethan blinked. “Theo? It’s been… years.”

“You told me to keep an eye on elite auctions, remember? Especially the ones that trade in, um… obscure artifacts.”

Ethan’s muscles tensed. “Go on.”

Theo’s voice dropped lower. “We found it.”

“What?”

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