lope in Alistair's hand. A dangerous, preda

laid it flat on the desk. Jeanie's signature was there

ness. "Once you've signed, I'll have it filed wi

the ink. He was seeing her in the darkness, feeling the he

It was a sound so devoid of warmth it mad

ched out. No

round the edge of th

olent motion, he ripp

II

two halves together and tore them again. And again. And again, until t

rift from his fingers, scatt

e as cold and final as a death sentence.

stammered, "the breach o

e word of this leaves this room," he said, his voice a low whisper,

t. "Yes, sir. Of course, sir." He

ughn alone with Tate, who had been

rim. A series of commands left his lips,

cal trust for Clara Brooks a

t. Highest level of care. All bills are t

hear." He hesitated. "Sir, our security detail stationed outside Mrs. Brooks' apartment repor

thermore, after you ordered the preliminary probe into Nash Industries," Tate continued, switching to a second file, "we legally subpoenaed their recent corporate co

a corner, threatened and humiliated by his o

of the blow sent his coffee cup flying, splattering

er life had been for the past year, all while he

down at the river of traffic on the streets of Ma

t meant she belonged to him. And no

nly felt like a noose and tossing it onto

ssemble the Blackguard t

Tate asked, already

ld and clipped. "Long I

us phone call played on an endless, agonizing loop in her mind. She had seen the furious matriarch make the call; she knew with absolute, terrifying certainty that her mother's life support funds were already frozen.

aughn's private helicopter began to sp

garage, their tinted windows hiding the armed men inside. They merged seamles

mined man for a single, unsuspe