Maybe. Would've told me off more. [ Way more. The end of the trial had given him some stability. And with it, his temper leveled out some. He'd gone from vicious to generally grouchy. Though both, he suspects, stem from his awful nerves. With maybe a bit of a predisposition to being annoyed easily.

None of that is cropping up now. Especially not when she brushes a small kiss to his jawline, causing his mouth to quirk up. There's a small fluttery feeling in his chest that follows, brief and pleasant. ]

Tomassen said he should have a date lined up soon. Everything slowed at the turn of the year.

[ They were creeping ever forward to bringing Heleen down. Well, not just her but her entire operation. And probably more than a few of her higher profile clients. Kerch didn't need their government officials lacking even more morals. ]