Are we cool?

Isabella's Bentley rolled to a smooth stop in front of Liam's townhouse, its sleek form gleaming under the afternoon sun. Her hand rested briefly on his forearm as he reached for the door handle, the weight of it deceptively light for someone who carried worlds on her shoulders.

"You're distracted," she observed, her tone casual but her eyes sharp. "Something on your mind?"

Liam forced a smile, pushing back the clamoring thoughts of USB drives, secret betrayals, and silver letter openers. "Just processing the Chen meeting," he lied, the words bitter on his tongue. "Nothing worth troubling you with."

She studied his face a moment longer, head tilted slightly. "You know you can tell me anything, right?" Her voice softened, a rare break in her carefully maintained composure. "Whatever complications arise, we handle them together."