Kaufm

rage doors, soaking my heavy leather b

Turning on my heel, I walked toward the private w

soldered late into the night over the past three years-the

ping only my encrypted handwritten notebooks

ors, not the thunder of heavy Harleys, but the familiar

t into the shop, soaking wet, his dark

Cut submerged in the drum of black oil, a

the room and grabbing the strap of my duffel bag. "You threw

om his grip, my eyes dead and detached. "That cut be

harity. "Cathy is at the clinic and needs care. I only came back for her medical files. Ashl

Apologize? Colin Velazquez, has the

ing low and sharp. "I've handed my life over to anothe

gh. "Another man? Outside my territory, you can't even affo

drawers for Cathy's files and knocking a ceramic co

der as he strode back toward the rain. "When you're freezing an

wallowed by the storm. A sharp ache tightened across

stumbled backward, my spine slamming hard ag

carving a deep gash across my shoulder bla

ake a sound, then hauled the duffel bag over my shoulde

vigated the back alleys, heading three bl

d and bleeding, the front desk nurse, Bett

?" Betty rushed around the counter, wrappin

take records." I leaned against the wall, my

ough my shirt, gasped, and guided me quickly dow

le, the smell of antiseptic filling my lung

und like rolling thunder rolled down the empty street-dozens

panes in their frames, filling

blinds, her voice trembling. "It's... it's the Iron Phantom

, a genuine smile fin

phone and sent a single