Page 192 of Damsel in Disguise

That proves only one thing.

Triarch Dominion figured out I left my Dominion watch strapped to a decoy.

Looks like I have even less time than I initially thought.

Coming back to my old mansion also meant coming back to old memories—reminders of just how thoroughly the Triarchs kept me leashed. Another reason I drove straight to her place instead of coming here first.

But now that I’m here, and thoroughly exposed, every move needs to be calculated, careful, and efficient.

The least amount of time should be spent for the greatest possible gain.

There are only three hours left before I anonymously meet Asher.

For now, I decide to ignore the Triarch Dominion for as long as I can get away with it. I head upstairs for a quick shower before getting ready to meet him at the agreed location in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Being the only person in this two-story, ten-thousand-square-foot mansion sitting in the middle of acres of private land should feel peaceful.

Instead, it feels wrong.

Every rustle of fabric. Every faint creak. Every flutter of curtains catches my attention far more than it should. It makes me hyperaware imagining of the guards of the Triarch Dominion breaking into my place and putting a bullet through my skull.

To my surprise, a part of me also expects Ariella to appear from somewhere—lurking around a corner, watching me from the shadows the way she always loves to.

Only this time, I’m entirely alone.

The vast property feels emptier because of it.

The shower is supposed to clear my head. It does the exact opposite.

Before long, thoughts of Ariella override any rational paranoia as I find my hand wrapped around my cock, stroking hard to the images of her invade my mind without mercy.

I picture myself buried inside her tight little pussy while traces of blood from her first time still cling to my cock. It makes me come hard for the second time to night after how fiercely I came inside her not more than an hour ago.

Hell, I’d actually planned on doing exactly that in her shower before cleaning her up properly.

Not that I had the luxury. Thanks to both Asher and Adrian.

Speaking of Adrian, I wonder whether Asher is coming alone tonight or bringing him along.

I’m dressed in black as I make my way toward Edge Hill, Warwickshire. It’s a twenty-minute distance from Stratford-upon-Avon.

A long overcoat drapes over my frame, and a full-face voice-distortion mask completes the look. Reminds me of the Founders, though. Anonymous. Unremarkable.

Asher is already standing there alone. He’s still wearing the same Tom Ford suit I saw him in earlier tonight.

Despite standing perfectly still, there’s a restless energy simmering beneath the surface. Every few moments, his attention flicks toward his wristwatch or the screen of his phone before returning to the empty hall around him.

The horizon is beginning to pale with the first warning signs of dawn.

At most, I have the first twelve hours of today.

Then everything changes. Hell, I might even die in the process.

The thought should concern me. Instead, I find a strange sense of peace washing over me. Finally, I can put an end to this insanity.

Though I’m certain I didn’t make a single sound approaching him, the moment I step within range, his attention shifts.

“I assume it’s Aleron.”