A year was a long time to bury ghosts, but not long enough to forget.

Sebastian stood in the chief’s office, posture straight, expression unreadable as the case file landed on the desk between them. Cold Case: The Shadow File. His eyes flicked over the details, but his mind was already elsewhere—because he wasn’t alone.

She was here.

The last person he expected. The last person he wanted.

She sat across from him, perfectly poised, just as untouchable as he remembered. No hesitation, no flicker of regret. Just that same damn calm that had driven him insane a year ago.

Still playing that game, huh?

The chief’s voice cut through the tension. “You two are the best we have. And this case? It’s going to need both of you.”

Sebastian scoffed, but he didn’t argue. He could be professional. He could work a case with someone he didn’t trust.

But as they stepped out of the office, his voice dropped to a low, taunting murmur. “You must have some real pull to get us paired up again. Missed me that much?”

Her lips barely curved. “Don’t flatter yourself, Sebastian.”

Oh, he was going to hate every second of this.

And yet, as his fingers brushed over the file, he couldn’t shake the feeling—this wasn’t just a case. This was a game someone had started long before they even stepped into it.

And this time, he wasn’t about to let her stay three steps ahead.