h an uneven vibration. After swallowing her progesterone dose, the sharp pulling pain in Eliza's lower

t, muffled click. Two dark, heavily built figur

h to scream, a thick cloth drenched in an industr

liza's fingers dragged frantically against the edge of the cheap nightstand. Through the haze of chemicals, instinct screamed at her to leave something behind. With a final surge of strength before her hands were pinned, her thumb

carried swiftly down

adrenaline she had left, twisting and thrashing against her capto

The doors slammed shut, and the vehicle tore out into the night,

idtown Manhattan, the war room of Haven Ca

ce grids flickered in high resolution. A communications officer pressed his

match against our global family index. Target profile: Eliza. Her cellular signal went dark three minutes ago on t

-rimmed gold glasses, his tailored silhouette rigid as iron. His knuckl

al, uncompromising calm. "Deploy our primary private tactical wing. Scramble the birds from Tete

doors were yanked open, and Eliza was dragged out into an environment th

t sideways, crashing against a metal utility cart to c

oss her jaw. The force split her lip,

g and we won't bother k

l-padded operating table. Heavy leather restraints wer

tion unit. Terminate th

ice of an unfamiliar man

neither an extortion kidnap nor a robbery. These people

e, the coarse nylon and leather straps sawing into her flesh until blood seepe

to her bloodstream. The cold spread rapidly up her shoulder, heavy as lead. Within seconds, her limbs went co

s, she caught the quiet, hurried exchange

are unstable-she's in tachycardic shock. If we force the

the directive, and his office handles whatever happens h

fading mind like

ington.

ialite in the VIP suite, who had replied "Fine"

en an act of release. It had be

sciousness. Tears streaked with blood slipped from beneat

steel security doors of the warehouse cli

ld with military-grade flashbangs. Armed sentries were neutralized in seconds with su

t fathom. In the depths of the blackn

at her hand. Her

nd the trauma team in immediately!

clinic were gone. She was lying beneath the vaulted ceiling of a high-secur

eyes, bloodshot and filled with overw