uards in black suits stepped onto the altar. They flanked Ar

r chest, letting her jaw hang s

p into the heavily fortified Branch family estate. The car stopped in front

n-faced woman with grey-streaked hair pulled into a severe bun. She didn't say a

e oak doors. She pushed them open, step

ating shades of charcoal and steel. The air conditi

to the door, sat Finn Branch. He was in a

ut behind Areli. The sound

e wheels of his chair

was clenched tight, the muscles jumping beneath his skin. He radiated

g the rabbit. She hunched her shoulders, making herself look a

e. "Don't think for a second that surviving that circus today m

nted to a narrow, black leather sofa sho

u make a sound, if you touch anything,

carpet, clutching the rabbit, and threw herself onto the far corner of the sofa. She pulled h

t stand the sight of her. He spun his wheelcha

ter, the heavy drumming of water hitting

running, the terrified, adorin

straight. Her eyes

e back of the suffocating wedding dress, shrugging the heavy lace off her shoulders to reveal a bla

ket of her skirt and pulled out

er eye. The holographic keyboard flared to life, castin

Spectr

get file: Ferd Branch

ing in absolute silence. She bypassed the first

ll company. A massive data cache of illegal wire

A green progress bar appeare

60%..

f the running water i

reath caught in her throat. She didn't move h

.. 9

f the bathroom doo

%. Downloa

over the watch face.

anket from the arm of the sofa. She yanked it over her head, burying her face i

oom door

stepp

in the w

ning down the hard, defined muscles of his chest and abdomen. A white towel

r and poured a glass of water. As he drank, his

the top of her head was visible. Her chest rose a

f. To fall asleep that fast in a stranger's room

ad absolutely no idea that the woman sleeping on his sofa had j