had passed. Ethan was asleep, his head resting in her lap, his small face finally relaxed in the safety of

nal chimed softly.

Captive confirms a key contact fo

with precision across

I'll handle

a directive that would set

mera Syndicate leadership. Codename: Operatio

tantaneous. Under

in Roman stared at a report on his desk, his jaw tight with frustration. For three year

on, "Wraith," had been used to divert a Ghost Bird transport from a black op in the P

ss's moods, stood silently by the door. "

ad out below him like a galaxy of captured stars. "For three years, she's be

like a vengeful angel, her movements a blur of deadly grace. She had saved his life and vanished without a word, leaving him with nothing

ing dot on the holographic ma

in his eyes. "Get the jet ready. And buy the best pentho

linked. "The en

he man take an involuntary step back. "Yes. I have

a civilian news browser, her fingers tapping in the name of her

eb Hayes Announce Engagement, Merging T

abelle, smiling sweetly, her hand

b. Her e

er fingers tightened on the edge of her s

e was convicted of manslaughter. They had watched as her own family

ss, the cold terror of the prison gates closing behind her. She s

t that gir

nged. A nondescript SUV waited at a private airstrip outsi

, helping him into a clean sweatshirt. "When we see Mom, don't t

ing, nodded. "I'll just say yo

d a small, g

alifornia sun. Avery shielded her eyes, the familiar scent

the wheel. The engine turned over with a quiet hum. She set the navi

Crestview City rose up in the distance, a collectio

d on the steering whee

ty, a promise and a threat. "And th