Raven was three pages into the Leni file when she felt Vincent look up.
No sound. Just the air in the study thickening. Raven's stomach clenched before her brain caught up.
Raven kept her eyes on the page anyway.
Late afternoon light slanted low through the tall windows behind the massive oak desk, painting long gold stripes across the dark wood floor. The Blades had cleared out after the briefing. Just Raven and Vincent now. Like most evenings lately. Raven buried in files, Vincent buried in the war. The quiet between them felt easy. Raven didn't question it anymore.
Raven read the same line twice. Sebastian's routing note. Timestamp still off. Raven forced herself to the next line.
Vincent closed his folder. Soft snap. Decisive.
Raven's pulse kicked hard.
Vincent stood. Crossed the room in that slow, hungry stride. Not the sharp operational one. Three seconds. Raven used two to set the file down. On the third she looked up.
