Lovi read through the message twice, savoring every single word like a fine meal, his smile growing wider and more satisfied with each pass.
"Absolutely right," he said aloud, nodding his head slowly with the air of a king surveying his conquered territory. "You have absolutely no other choice, Cora. Because all of the cards - every single piece of leverage, every bit of ammunition - all of it is entirely in my possession and mine alone." He tapped his chest with one finger for emphasis. "And I will dictate exactly when to use them and when to hold them back. I control the timeline. I control the narrative. I control everything."
He sat with that feeling of absolute power for a long, indulgent moment before the practical side of his mind kicked back into gear and reminded him that there was still preparation work to be done before their meeting.
