dal

aluminum tablet. "Compensation? You offered

small speaker. "Nothing in my territory is free, Kendal. I bought you your

entering an industrial district bordered by tow

rom me?" Suspicion

, his words falling slow, hea

pletely sta

riage. For one

manded, my heart suddenly hammering against

d smoothly, as if discussing an equipment lease. "They want me shackled to a pedigree soc

trailing slowly down my fig

rters. The President of the Serpents claiming the ex-fiancée of a prominent Lizard lieutena

hing for a trace of a joke. Nothing. Just

out of this arrange

one touches you. Jayson won't even be permitted to breathe the same air in your vicinity. You r

the year

ly to an offshore account in your name. You can purchase an est

ement. Total protection from

er. Which meant it was e

f I re

sh," he said evenly. "We call it square. But ask yourself, Kendal-without my colors shielding you, how

, and he was offering to wr

ed compound. Above the reinforced steel gates hung an iro

ndal?" Braxton's bariton

steadying bre

irk played across his

and to disconn

meline clicked into place. "The text last night. The surveillance foo

creen, searching his eye

unmistakable look of an apex predator watching his

r than that idiot gave you

call cut

e of the road. He had orchestrated the entire execution, dismantled my lif