r. Her name is Kara Sexto

olding a tablet. "She is, according to the records,

York skyline a backdrop to his cold fury. His right leg was stretched ou

polished wood. He remembered the arrangement. A public rela

rs at ten this morning to sign the divorce p

nick said, his voic

l through a service exit at 6:15 a.m. She wa

ory interest-crossed Domenick's face. A corner of his mo

I want to kno

dn't go

else-nowhere, at least, that the Sextons knew about. So

fe she had built piece by piece and kept sealed off from the family that had thrown her away. But all of that was a door

violation. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror-her face pale, almost ghostly, dark circles shadowing her eyes. She raised a trembling hand and parted her bangs, sweeping the

to a private room

nd a warm smile, was sitting up in bed. She had been a friend to

full of concern as she took K

mile that didn'

hallway. Shouts. The sound of somet

m. "It's Mr. Ashford! Landon Ash

been hospitalized for severe PTSD and intermittent psy

hands were still shaking, and her stomach gave a slow, sour roll as the chaos in the hallway washed over her.

couldn't. Not when someo

e couldn't afford. Beneath the fear, something older and colder was already taking over-the years of training her body remembered even

nd deliberate, until her hand

ke a soldier, was tearing the hallway apart. Two security guards were keeping thei

g, about to order a forced sedative injection. B

a said, her voice

ng her as a frequent visitor. "Miss,

leaving no room for argument. "If it

aching the raging man. Her eyes were s

roared, brandishi

t a hum. "Landon, look at me. Remember the

ade him hesitate. Just fo

all she

possible angle. Her fingers, swift and precise, pressed into a series of

a cascade of motion too f

instantly. The madness in his eyes

lass clattered

g body, gently guiding

had taken less th

ent. Doctors, nurses, secur

checking Landon's vitals. H

ure of awe and disbelief. "What... what

said simply, her voice flat. "He w

acket back on, melting away before