in the VIP wing. Her hand was wrapped in a rag she'd fo

d grunted, shovi

e points on his neck. Carotid sinus. Vagus nerve. She could

rridor ahead eru

suites burst open. A group

omeone c

at his chest. His face was the color of putty, his li

topped, unsu

ing. She recognized him from th

n't br

ng!" a wom

knees and started push

"You're going to rup

help it. It was the Solis curse

acted to stop her. She sprinted to the fallen man

Her voice had a steel edg

. His chest was silent. No rise and fall. S

," someone

" Harper

eart had likely stopped or was in a useless rh

heart manually. A long sho

palmed a tiny, sealed vial containing a high-dose stimulant. It was a l

" a guard shouted,

t h

the hall. It was calm, cold,

look up. She k

d using a small, one-way valve she also carried, blew two sharp breaths into

lly jolt the heart. As her hand came down, her other hand, the one with the vial, discreetly pressed against

ond. Tw

t out a massive, ragged gasp, sucking in ai

o his cheeks. His eyes

ay went d

g. She quickly tucked the empty vial back i

," she said, standing

, hoping to disappe

wrist. Her bad wrist. The

d in pain an

nto the ice-blue

n years ago. His jaw was sharper, covered in a shadow of stubble. His should

n at her face. He reached out and t

rper," he

e on his tongue made

lled out a checkbook. He scribbled somet

or five hundred

d for saving Mr. King. Though I daresay the w

the check. "Five

d your life on a wire for peanuts. You saved a billiona

knew she needed the mon

per said, her voice tremblin

ion didn't cha

ing her blood off his finge

low