Chapter 221. An Icy Resolve

Lara stands in front of the closed door, too broken to move. The call from Carter feels like the universe’s way of telling her she must refocus, push her emotions aside, and concentrate on the mission. As much as her heart aches for Zach, her family’s safety and the need to dismantle Claire’s power come first.

Falling for him isn’t an option. Lara can’t, no matter how hard she tries, convince herself that everything she’s done with Zach is just part of her seduction plan. She’s falling for him faster than she ever imagined.

Lara paces around her living room, her thoughts in a whirlwind. The encounter with Zach has left her shaken, her emotions surging ahead of her carefully laid plans.

Every time she closes her eyes, she sees his silhouette, a haunting reminder of the night from years ago—a night she’s tried to forget but can never quite erase from her memory.

She knows she needs to get her head back in the game, to focus on the mission. This isn’t supposed t