ly Gra

to make problems disappear permanently. The silence stretched, thick and heavy in the room. The painkillers had

shook my h

yebrow, a flicker of surprise in his otherwise st

"Letting him die would be a mercy," I said, my v

rless sky beyond. I could picture Graves's face,

he watches everything he's built-his wealth, his status, his pr

partner, the brilliant strategist behind the curtain. He had built his empire on my idea

and venomous. "Not because he's afraid of death, bu

d by a glimmer of something else-respect, maybe even admiration. My body was a w

rstand. Helios predicted as much. He

m his coat pocket, dialed a number, a

s cool weight solid

e filled my ear. "Are y

ifferent now. It wasn't the plea of a victim. I

me

pletely off the grid, somewhere Graves can't

on the coast. Its security systems are managed by a private defense

As far as the world is concerned, Kimb

d. A complete legend, untraceabl

mple, something anonymous, a symbol of th

t...

he line, a sound of genuine approval. "K.

, leaving no trace they had ever been there. The only evidence was the clean bandages on m

t room, felt firm, deliberate. I took one last look at the opulent prison I had called home for

d through the phone as we wa

t is

l. Graves has undoubtedly froz

hurdle I hadn't solved. But I wouldn't be a ch

n't a gift, K. It's an investment. A dedicated Swiss account has been

One billion. The number was so vast it was abstract. It was th

en and urgent, s

into the phone, my mi