Run: 2026-02-19-01KHSZ1149SW7430FV2AFRJ460

The creak of the door was a familiar sound in this flat, one she'd known for years and had made her own in more ways than one. But this time, the sound hit Rory with a surge of nerves. This visit was a surprise, and not the pleasant kind. She knew who it was, and that did little to ease her tension. "Brice." She sounded calm, despite the tempest in her gut. "What are you doing here?" He leaned against the doorframe, his slender frame casual as always, dressed to the nines as usual, even at such an hour, his amber and black eyes holding a smouldering heat, which shifted to the barest hint of a smile. "You know, I actually have a legitimate business purpose." Lucien's deep voice held a hint of amusement, the way it did when he was about to one-up her. "I've got a job offer for you." Rory's heart clenched, that smile playing at the corner of her lips despite herself. She'd missed him so much, damn it. Missed his wit, how easy it was to talk to him, how close they'd been before... well, before everything. "Well then, why don't you enlighten me, Mr. Businessman?" she asked, keeping her tone flippant, holding on to the dizzying edge she felt around him. "Ah, but first, I was hoping for a glass of wine," he said, pushing himself off the doorframe and striding in, brushing past her, and leaving a trail of aftershave and something else, something smoky and tantalising in his wake. Stepping into the living room, Lucien's gaze swept across the cluttered space, filled with all her treasures. His eyes rested on a map of Europe tacked on the wall, one she'd used during her pre-law days to track down cases for mock trials. "A European business trip, eh?" he observed. "Yeah, looks like I'll be heading to Paris and Brussels soon," she replied, not about to give him more than he was offered. "I presume this has something to do with your recent rising star in the courier business?" "In a way." She threw him a challenging look. "You first." That damnable, almost invisible smirk of his returned as he pulled out a bottle of decent wine from his coat. "I thought we could celebrate... the offer I'm about to give you. It's a three-month contract, which could lead to more, and it'll pay extremely well." He uncorked the wine expertly, avoiding Rory's eyes as he did so, filling the two glasses she placed on the table between them. Rory took a sip of the wine, a part of her cursing that it was so damn good. Lucien only ever brought the best. "I've been asked to find someone," he continued. "Someone who's gone missing, and I need you to help me find them. We used to work together, and you, my dear, are a hard person to say no to." The smile finally broke free, a flash of wicked charm that had always had the power to disarm her. "Flattery will get you nowhere." Rory tried to keep her tone light, even as her heart sped up, the wine suddenly thick and heavy in her mouth. "You know I can't refuse a favour from a friend." "It's more than a simple favour," he murmured, leaning in closer. "This person is important to me. They vanished without a trace. I need to know why." Rory's eyes searched his face, seeing past the suave facade to the simmering pain beneath. She knew that darkness too, only too well. "Why come to me?" she asked softly, reaching for his hand, intertwining her fingers with his. "How can I help?" Lucien's breath hitched, his gaze falling to their clasped hands, then back to her, his eyes radiating intensity. "You..." he started, his voice low, almost hoarse. "Your insight. Your unique perspective. And the fact that you've been there when I was lost..." He bit off his words, then looked into her eyes as if seeing her for the first time. "I just couldn't think of anyone else." Rory felt her breath catch in her throat. She knew those words had cost him a great deal. He never spoke of his emotions, or the past they shared. It was a wall between them, one she'd hoped to break someday. "Of course I'll help you," she said quietly, squeezing his hand gently. "How could I say no?" He smiled, a real smile this time, one filled with relief and something else, something she didn't want to examine too closely. "I knew I could count on you." Without thinking, Rory leaned in to close the gap between them, not caring if she broke every rule of propriety in the book. He smelled as good as he looked, like a storm on a summer's day. She could feel his demon side buzzing under her touch, a warning to some, a point of attraction to her. His lips brushed hers, a soft, tentative touch, yet filled with a desperation that matched her own. He tasted like red wine and smoke. "I missed you," she whispered against his lips. "I missed you too, Ròisín," he replied, the Irish of her real name gracing her ears, causing a swell of emotion. "More than you know. I've made mistakes, and I need to make it right." Rory's heart felt like it was about to burst out of her chest, but she nodded, choosing to ignore the warnings of her mind, and instead listened to her body and heart. "Tell me what you need me to do." Lucien pulled back, his eyes searching hers, and then he grinned, the predatory smile that always made her insides melt. "You'll need to book a ticket. Brussels, first stop."