he gripped the metal. The script in his head screamed at him to throw

not wait for h

minal sat on a sleek glass table, completely disconnected from the mansion's main netw

chine," he barked, his voice cracking. "That is

er button. The screen flared to life,

k. She typed a string of thirty-six characters-a chaotic mix of Latin phr

hed on the screen: UNAUTHORIZE

the desk, ready to phy

The screen turned a solid, calming green. Bold

back, Fo

triggered in the security

desk, let out a low, strangled gasp. The core system was unhackable. It

op lid. She turned around and look

hospital to verify my biology

nty of his reality was crumbling beneath his feet. He looked a

e sounding like crushed glass. "B

the black Maybach gl

nard sat rigidly, staring out the tinted window. Kath

the underground VIP parking

he script. He walked around the rear of the car and opened Katherine's door. As she stepped out, his hand a

-side toward the pr

, a violent burst of white light flashed fr

click-

niforms lowered their long-lens came

them down, but it was too late. One of the paparazzi had a wirel

in a sterile white room, allowing a d

nard paced. His phone vibra

en was flooded with notifi

n in bold red letters: SHOCKER! ICE-COLD BILLIONAIRE KENNARD BLACKBURN SP

Katherine. Because she looked twelve years younger than her actual age, and was wea

urnsMysteryWoman was alre

an incoming call. The caller ID f

bringing the p

aker, so loud it echoed in the quiet hallway. "A pregnant gold-digger? You're

It's not what you think. This is a highly complex situation

se, I will burn it to the ground!" Ke

he examinatio

. The acoustics of the hallway carried every vile

s. The script hadn't just ruined her son; it had turn

y hit the end call button, cutting his sister off mid-scream. He shoved t

the wall-mounted television in the waiting area.

rm had