Days

ing election felt heavier every day. Will Devon was closing in on her, the mafia backing his campaign in the shadows. They were well-connected, th

how to play the game, how to turn words into power. But this... this was different. She was fighting against forces that didn't follow the rules. There were invisible han

ocating; as the election drew closer

t either disappeared quietly or publicly pledged their support out of fear. Despite six years of investigations, clandesti

ow loomed large

er from her thoughts. It wa

d leads. We ne

xterior. Time was the one thing she didn't have. Every step

ed another alliance with in her pursuit of her goal. She'd done her research-ex-Delta Force, hi

therwise, but there hadn't been

s survived two encounters with the beast thing. The man s

st time for him to arrive. But before she cou

--------

his surroundings with a soldier's instinct. Men and women working continuously on the coming election move about frantically paying little attention to Rico. Most of them are looking for the next bi

med to radiate brightness. Workstations scattered across the office. On

roached Rico with a hint of reluctance. "Ms. Allen is expecting

He wasn't here for pleasantries. He was

ace. Her office too was painted white like the rest of the work stations. She looked

ting you to show up." She knows he was going to

ne altogether different from the

response. Was he not the same man that made it o

a terrible setup for someone being hunted. "You should beef

"I tried the security

e no c

adable, his face stoic and hardened, but it seems like h

Are you alright?" she

ine," Rico said, his tone flat. "I need info

her hands on the desk, percei

him," she was expecting

ry criminal operation in the state-drugs, weapons, trafficking. His reach exte

n remaining cold. "And yet, you'v

some suspicious kidnapping of a pregnant woman. Every lead pointed to Maloy, but we co

rowed. "Why tel

y man, Rico. What you did on that train... I don't know how, but you stopped something no

to have developed some sort of agreement during this electio

pponent in the ele

cted, and willing to do whatever Maloy asks. If he wins the election, Maloy'

. Beth Allen was in the center of it all; suddenly he realized just how much danger she was in. Why ever Ed Maloy and Will Devon is cook

her voice firm. "But I can't do i

her eyes, but beneath it was a steely determination t

air, his face unreadable.

he'll tighten his grip on this state, and people like Will Devon will

ce cutting through the tension like a blade.

You're making a mistake. Detective Fury can help yo

N

aybe. But it'll be my mistake, not yours." He will do e

ed out, leaving Beth alone in