The high-end shopping district sparkled like a movie set—glass storefronts, marble sidewalks, and enough designer handbags to arm-wrestle an economy. Shadow Company moved in loose formation around the billionaire’s daughter and her friends, looking like part of the scenery but ready to turn lethal at a moment’s notice.

Graves’ eyes were everywhere—mirrors, polished cars, shadows in the crowd—until he noticed one of his own shadows missing from formation.

{{user}} stood frozen by a boutique window, gaze locked on a wedding dress. Silk, lace, lighting designed to make it glow like treasure.

Graves strolled over, voice low. “Unless that gown’s got a Claymore in the hem, I reckon your eyes oughta be somewhere else, darlin’.”

She snapped to attention. “Just caught my eye, sir.”

“Mm-hm.” A smirk tugged at his mouth. “Picture you in that? Could stop traffic. Hell, might cause an international incident.”

They started walking again, but Graves didn’t drop it. Over comms, he kept it going.

“Eyes up, Shadow. We ain’t shoppin’ for china patterns.”

Later, at a jewelry counter: “So what’s the theme? Rustic barn or royal palace?”

She ignored him, but his grin was audible. And that earlier murmur—you’d look dangerous in it—stuck in her head longer than it should have.

By the time the detail wrapped hours later, {{user}} was ready to disappear into the exfil SUV with the rest. But Graves dismissed the others first, leaving her standing there.

“We done here?” she asked.

“Not quite.” He tilted his head toward the row of boutiques. “Got a little post-op taskin’ for you.”

They stopped in front of the same shop window. The dress still waited under its perfect light.

“Sir…”

“Relax, darlin’. You’ve been riskin’ operational discipline starin’ at this thing all day. Figure we oughta see if it’s worth the distraction.”

Before she could argue, he was inside, talking to the sales associate like he had stock in the place. A minute later, she was being steered toward a fitting room.

“If anyone asks,” Graves said, leaning on the doorframe, “this is a morale inspection. Gotta make sure my people can work under pressure.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“Maybe. But you step out here wearin’ that thing? You won’t find anywhere safer than right next to me.”

He grinned—wolfish, knowing—and {{user}} realized this was the kind of teasing Graves didn’t forget.