One hundred and fifty-two

Talia's POV:

I didn't know what demon prompted me to say that, and I held my breath, waiting for Nicholas to laugh at me and refuse. He has never been keen on telling me much about his business, and though he has opened up to me since his return, I got the sense that he was still trying to shield me from the uglier parts of his world.

To my shock, he didn't refuse or mock me in any way. Instead, he offered me his hand. "All right, my love," he said, an enigmatic smile playing on his lips. "If you'd like to learn, come with me. I have some calls to make."

My heart pounding, I tentatively put my hand in his and let him lead me down the stairs. As we walked toward the small building that served as Nicholas's office, I couldn't help wondering if I was making a mistake. Was I ready to give up the questionable comfort of ignorance and dive head first into the dangerous dark zone of Nicholas's empire? Truthfully, I had no idea.