I sat at my desk by the window. Vincent walked over, placing a cup of chamomile tea beside my keyboard.

“You should be sleeping,” Vincent said softly, leaning his hip against the window frame.

“I can’t,” I admitted. “I keep thinking about what could have happened.”

Vincent looked down at me, his green eyes burning with an intense, quiet sincerity. “I’m leaving the syndicate, Elena. I’ve spent the last six months liquidating our illegal holdings, turning our shipping enterprise entirely legitimate. I’m setting up a trust fund for Mia’s education. And I want you to stay... as my partner. If you’ll have a monster who’s trying very hard to become a grumpy bear.”