Under the heiress facade

Tyler answered, "Yeah."

Hera narrowed her eyes.

"You're the Grandmaster of Astral Nova?"

He put a finger to his lips to shush her and said cryptically, "That's a dangerous question to ask. It could get us into deadly trouble."

She frowned. She knew Astral Nova was a powerful and mysterious organization, but she never thought it would be so dangerous that she would run into deadly trouble if she asked about it. Then again, Tyler might not be lying if Astral Nova was so powerful that even the four influential families would bow to it.

And to think, Hera had unknowingly flirted with death when she repeatedly attacked Astral Nova's firewall the last time.

"The organization's inner workings can be highly political at times, but you can dig up any information you want through its network within minutes. So, how about it?" Tyler probed.

He was still smiling, his gaze beguiling and full of lethal charm. With a face like his, he could make anyone say yes.

Hera stared at him and asked, "So this is the third condition?"

briefly flashed across Tyler's eyes, but Hera saw it anyway. She knew at once that he was

join it. He could also be playing her for a fool

who had been adopted by the

myself if I were to

being weak and helpless. He had been threatened at needlepoint by her not hours ago. And no coward would infiltrate Astral Nova's system

think she might need a lesson on

offer just yet. Go home and sleep on

out his

Give me your number, and we'll talk

"Besides, you should have a backup plan in case

stiffened and looked up at the roguish man before her. She wondered about

from inactivity, he tapped on

your number. Maybe one of these days, you'll learn that Bernard has been lying to you. You're welcome to join me if that happens."

Celestial Gardens, Bernard was reviewing the worksheet on his computer in his study

Samson knocked on the door