ck into the stormy gloom, but the image of

ted. The air left her

and who had overseen her captivity for five years. The man whose cold, dead eyes

Sta

xploded like a landmine. A sound tore from her throat

eeding hands tearing at the mud, trying to p

ed together. He stopped walking. Slowly, deliberately, he ra

t was the exact posture he used right before

p a handful of wet mud and gravel

ad a fraction of an inch, letting the dirt sp

a low, heavy rumble that cut straight

ent a violent shudder down her spine. He was here to finish the job. T

She turned and sprinted blindly toward the back of t

g legs eating up the distance as he sprinted aft

ss her face. The smell of salt and rotting seaweed filled her nose. She looked d

. Small pebbles broke loose, t

ay. He threw his arm out, his voice cracking

ce, the wind threatening to push her over. Her

tearing her vocal cords. "I know why you're here! I will die

pain crossed his dark eyes, but he buried it instantly. He knew she wouldn't believe he

. He needed to break her curr

panic left his face, replaced by

, Dr. Conner?" Erik sneered, his voice dripping wit

l gown. "It was an ambush," she yelled bac

w, deliberate step forward. "It wasn't random. It w

dy went rig

Delta-Niner. Departure delayed by forty minutes due to a 'me

ssified itinerary details. Only the hospital board a

elled over the storm, dropping the bomb. "They took the money and handed

by your o

tire foundation of her suffering-the belief that she was j

t after the ambush. She remembered him grabbing her collar, choking o

d together with h

s knees buckled. All the strength lef

the muddy ground, inches from the drop. She stared blank

her upper arm with an iron grip and hauled her violently awa

as a hollow shell. She let him

inches from hers. "In this city, trust no one," he whispered, his

l, accidentally triggering the emergency SOS feature. The dispatcher's tinny voice was already demanding their location. Seconds later, a pair of blinding white spotlights swept across the ruin

to the shadows. He gave Deanna one last, intensely protective look, then turne