papers. The lawyers moved like sharks, slidin

r of

ial Agr

r. For a second, she hesitated. This was it. She was si

ed in her ear, gripping

. Julian was watching her. He

ance. The signature

pped his hands. "We'll a

e. "Ladies and Gentlemen, a special announcement. Mr. Ju

e was polit

ns, sister," she said, her smile tight. "You'll make a lovely nurse. Just m

oked at

His voice carried, cut

inked. "Ye

a languid finger. "The zipper has

o her back. She spun around, fra

e ran toward the bathro

was no

a smile. Julian leaned in, his lips brushi

t," he whispered. "I

led it out. A text from

: Elara

s of three encrypted IP jumps originating from her foster home's location. Someon

aving no footprint was harder than hav

he muttered u

im in front of a senator. Elara wa

circled i

th was higher than the GDP of a small island, stepped

her red wine. "The mute got the monste

cracker. Daphne sl

d. "God, you're pathetic. Look at t

rk liquid splashed across the front of Elara's grey dre

er eyes were dancing with malice. "My bad. But

People nearby turne

her skin. She slowly reached into her bag and

on Daphne's necklace. A massiv

ng the subtle fire of a true diamond. But more importantly, she saw the setting. The prong

he typed a message. She t

al platinum is heavy; that chain moves li

he clutched the necklace.

typed

Or should I ask the

in, squinting. "Actually... the girl migh

turned