t sliced through the lethargy. Her lips hardly opened as

ven though it was not a questi

reminded him that she was still a woman who knew how to survi

control voice. Though you were

ken tension gathering like a storm just on approach. She was strong, impenetrable by most, yet here she was, exposed

ed to cut right through him. She examined him as

but exact. Are you

ready for. "I'm just a doctor," he murmured, his

But you still find yourself here. Yo

on rescuing lives, this was different. Sofia Alvarez shown more than simply patience. She was a force, a l

still for a brief instant. But Sofia, I am not here

le he worried whether she would throw him out as she did everyone else. She didn't, however. Rath

I'm better?" Her comments were not harsh,

o himself than to her, he added gently, "I

l curl of her lips. "Dr. Escobar,

ut he could not. not right now. Not when she had begun to und

l Richards entered. His keen eye turned right away to Rafael,

as like gravel, coarse, but it had a

toward Michael, her look insumutable. Rafael felt their conve

rpness that sliced across the room. He said, "Dr. Escobar

The mood had changed, and he instantly und

izing that this was no more a question. "But you could as we

orres, Michael was. Their exchange was sharp, th

whisper, yet it carried. "He could destroy everythi

too closely. Still, should he do, we will handle

a dagger, but Rafael's blood went co

things spiral out of control. Now, particular

side him. The tension in the air was stifling. His cell buzzed. One he couldn identify, it was an unknown number. Although the a

ned in on the call. He had picked up

d far-off, the lights of the city opened out before him, a world he no longer felt linked to

g Sofia's name scribbled across it. He forgot having seen it earlier. Thou

ad never even considered. One item that caught attention, though, were a colle

, was the evidence. Michael was unde

r of something darker lingered under. Her voice low, "R

rnt not to question her, but tod

s not just outside these walls." "My adversaries are nearer th

betrayals, of politics performed under the shadow of her dominion, but to

the glass as though it would provide the solutions she was looking for. Bu

y a physician now. He was a part of something frightening, something he couldn't entirely fathom. His mind sped, the opposin

belong nowhere here. But right now you are here, and I a

or flung open and Antonio Fuentes, a familiar man entered the room. The air c

erything is under control." The attack will go as scheduled,

im. And what of the traitor? sh

. "After we have a solid place, we will

io spoke. He no longer merely watched. He was in the center of so

about that look suggested a threat or warning. Antonio seemed to know

need you here, I am not asking you to come along. You won't walk away from th

gh he wasn't sure whether he wanted to listen,

r eyes, and her eyes stayed fixed on him. You not

g Michael Richards, Sofia's right-hand man; his tall bulk stre

e low but definitely firm:

was questioning something deeper, something unstate

supporting her, you are not. You are involved in something far more than you could possibl

Michael's remarks were filled with signifi

envelope in a motion so faint it was nearly invisible. He held

ou have chosen this. Are you going to leave? Great. But keep in mind: stayin