broke a

ews outlets released the exposé under a

dicate: Names,

tes, it was

dfire. A senator resigned before 8 AM. Two board membe

t see any of it happen. Th

own hotel near the outskirts of the city, paid in cash, the kind of pla

room like a caged an

him. "That's the plan, isn't

osed. Charles isn't the type to let go. H

Then maybe it's time

and looked at her. "

mitted. "But if we can bait

his head. "It

ing's be

tion boiling just under the surface. "I

placing her hands on his chest. "Then t

d against hers, reluc

he pushback came fast. Denials. Legal threats. Media suppression tactics. Already, some of the

ng, and the sharks w

ing in a back alley near a clos

ded this morning. Two others are in hiding. It's n

owed her e

ere's a meeting happening tomorrow. Private estate. Charles and two of hi

"You want us to crash

it. I can't go. They'd recognize me. Bu

us to walk into a lion's den wit

rld what it can't deny," G

mara. She nodded w

ll d

s, surrounded by enough trees to keep drones usele

ured them forged IDs and clearance badges from a crooked catering company.

a quiet snarl behind

e belonged there, s

man who looked like he'd ordered someone's death before

t in Charles' eyes: r

and pulled out the recorder hidden inside a lipstick tu

he recorder to

ed through, clear

t the shell companies by next week. If that rep

they don't h

girl's a wreck. And Julian-he's

lenched

he twi

ird

t didn'

her. She's more like her

blood tur

rned toward him

that

ig

unned silence as hi

look real, but not enough to burn the whole thing. You wa

're their savior. That's what I like abo

mach twiste

d trust

crumbs and use

k-but the rage behind

get out," Am

an n

omething shifted. A shadow mov

half a second before h

him before the

art hammering. "We have what w

like a tide. Guests di

es, completely unaware that the people he betray