appeared, leaving only the echo of silence and

ve, come alone. No cops. No

might change. Like it mig

ed against hers in the aftermath of their raw, frantic lovemaking.

ice husky, unaware of the

phone off. "Noth

ng damp hair from h

ded too

etrayed her. A

abe

d hard. "I n

g. He knew secrets-how to spot them, how to live i

zy.

d I'm

heet around her like armor. Her body ached from the

ed to the window. The city stretche

his arms around her waist, skin still

he murmured. "Whatever's c

dn't r

already planni

windows of Langford Holdings' 89th floor, sipping espress

ntrol of your son

't flinch. "I never had

e underesti

d. "And yo

e met his. "He loves her. Th

, rising from his chair.

ded him

It came from a burner that

t sharpened.

d. "She's alive. But if I

won

a brow. "You s

patched someon

ays

cold smile. "Someon

e flash drive Vivienne had given Grayson. A burner phone of her own, something

a note on the

me. I have to

Iz

hen tore it up. Gra

d a clean

ded to

n the shower

unraveling. She walked out into the rain-drenched night, one hand clenched around the burne

nfidence of a woman who knew

di

had on

t listed in her mo

on Street. Private

re the bodies were

hower, towel around his wais

he cal

ans

st. He walked into the room,

was

er phone.

ched into the fogged

t foll

ea

" he b

ing after

on

ne wanted

op and an old boxing gym that reeked of sweat and failure. Isabella stepped into t

t sli

red out. "Wh

er. Sofi

es nar

door un

s file photo. Scarred. Hardened. But th

er," he said. "I s

live. Is

dn't

e motioned

room cluttered with maps, f

mething inside Langford Holdings. Told me if she

did sh

lit a c

ryth

eady back at La

y, ignoring protests, by

open Vivien

m her tablet, ent

she?" he

t you right now," V

lls

ou're his blind spot-but she isn't. If he catch

lp me st

e leane

ready

keycard acr

t's

to bury is there-documents, videos, evidence. You w

cked up th

"Why are yo

ned. "Because once...

black sites, illegal shipme

ia Vega, bound, bruised, stil

his?" Isabe

by a whistleblower three days ago.

ed w

isapp

e rise in her blood.

ad. "You're one gir

just on

st

her phone

number

ove. Now prove it. Come

up. "They w

ed grave. "Then yo

17 were shrouded i

measured. She wore black, hood up,

ked of salt

tsteps b

around-

bbed her, dragged h

slashing, knees

overpow

ures stepped

eld a

r a sy

e?" the man with

d it," s

g an

un co

th

ro

than

through the dock gat

ay

c

rang

e car, tackled

e syringe guy stra

es f

abbed her

the night erupt

Somewhere

the wall as the

ne. Swea

, breathing hard.

ace. "I'll alwa

lips c

hes

pinned her to the wall, thrust into her ha

t n

h as he fucked her like

d her hips. Hers c

u're mine,"

asped. "Grayson, I

oing through the dark room, their

thought they coul

house ph

ri

w

picked

on the o

And we want the gir