ry

YEARS

smelled of old money, expen

was where the world's elite came to buy things that weren't supposed

polished, untouchable persona of "Ava." I wore a floor-length gown of midnight

er life five years ago. I stood with a spine of

bowed slightly as he approached. "The co

er than my natural tone-a trick I had perfected. "Mak

cour

the secure VIP area backstage. Swiping my keycard, I ste

a criminal mastermind's lair and m

ive years old, were scatter

th a laptop balanced on his knees, his small fingers flying a

d drone, its schematics glowing on his screen. "I can make it faster," he mut

So

down onto the arrival hall. She was eating a pink

ithout looking up from his scree

und a mouthful of cookie.

bad guys," Noah correcte

before heading back out to oversee the floor. Once back on the balcony, I

as still pressing her n

low, a fleet of black SUVs pulled

out of the l

ke armor. His hair was slightly greyer at the temples than it had been five years ago, his

ght. NHL

watched Sophie freeze.

It was a picture she had stolen from my lockbox a year ago. A picture of Blake and me on a b

photo up to

ispered through the camera's

is typing. He slid one headph

let. His eyes went w

e said solemnly. "

The playfulness vanished. In its place was a sca

res?" Noah as

ngers flying back over the keys.

ill shot through my veins. I wrapped my arms aroun

ng through the

started, hammering against m

nd. Blake was legitimate sports elite. He sho

ooking for some

e. "Block the backstage access. No

ored. He looked dangerous. His eyes swept

saw

h the distance, I felt the physical impact of his stare. He

uptly, my breath com

y-cam feed on my phone. The video was beginning to glitch-Caleb was establ

n the corner of the pla

spered through the crackling a

said, tapping his screen

ophie said, following No

, pressing the tw

een wen

sig

I whis

le