She stood on the cracked pavement, her thumb swiping across her phone screen, opening the Uber app.

oak door of the Wrig

to turn around to know who it was. The sharp clatter of Donita's he

coat tightly around her body. A nasty,

carrying over the wind. "Standing on the corner lik

still flushed with residual anger and humiliation. He pu

her wallet from his pocket and waved a crisp twenty-dollar bill in the air. "H

their voices like the annoying hum of a broken streetlamp. But beneath the howling wind, a low, a

ed the money back into his pocket and took three aggressive strides

aze her hand, a sound rippe

through the soles of their shoes. Within seconds

eng

on the st

reet. It didn't look like a car; it looked like a stealth fighter jet on wheels. The ae

massive tires gripped the asphalt, screeching sharply as

om the engine block, the deep, idling rumble that rattled wi

scanned the front grille, looking for a Ferrari horse or

tly morphed back

g sound. He pointed at the matte black hood. "No badge. Probably some ch

n. It glided upward, a smooth, silent b

steppe

d granite. He wore a simple, unbranded black tactical jacket and dar

Brant M

the car. His eyes, cold and dead as a win

ir grew thin. Crockett's laugh died in his throat. His mouth snapped sh

t of the supercar, his heavy boots crunching

tly. The hard lines of his jaw relaxed. A s

eep, resonant rumble, completely at odd

d photographs. Her chest tightened, a strange, unfamiliar flutter of

Her hand flew

inted a trembling finger at Brant's tactical jacket. "That's the stree

dy," Crockett yelled, stepping forward. "You better move this piece

vera's shoulder. As the weight transferred to his hand, Brant's thick eyebrows twitched together.

open. He gestured for Elvera to get in. His movements

e low bucket seat. The interior smelled

ion burned his skin. He lunged forward, his ha

ash!" Crockett barked. "Take your scammer

nger door down, sealin

y turned

The dead-eyed, soul

tt's outstretched hand

opping to a terrifying, absolut