Beatrix's face the moment she stepped t

st the police barricades, thr

true you faked your

ng back the M

rchestrate yo

ly, using his broad shoulders to carve a

ed Jaziel down the wide granite steps. His tailored tuxedo st

antly, abandoning Beatrix t

statement regarding the

Consortium fac

of cameras and microphones, his dark, piercing gaze cut strai

gainst her skin. Her steps faltered for a fracti

r of a sleek, unmarked bla

rward, jamming his hand onto th

comment, M

's fingers off the frame with practiced p

comm

with a heavy thud, cutt

at, hit the gas, and pulled the se

ts shove Jaziel into the back of an armored federal SUV.

her through the rearview mirror. "The wedding

t, exhaling a slow breath. Instead of the triumph sh

er brow furrowing. "Jaziel didn't fight

gh a crowded interse

e was airtight. What

ails digging into her palms. "Jaziel never walks i

ral steps, Denita stood al

filed past her, their open mocke

neered, adjusting her diamond necklace

hands, sobbing uncontrollably as

eatrix's encrypted phone v

the screen. A text from an untr

zen by federal order. The Earl i

ted the thre

Julian. I need to prepare

urn toward the Lower East Side as rain

image of Jaziel in handcuffs. Yet his low whisper

nd her shoulders, trying to shake

irror, his knuckles white

.. we hav

eyes and turned tow

t plates had matched their speed, trailing two c