was sharp.

her shirt. She

o big for this building. Even in a sweater, he looked expensi

t," she said

uck slightly to the linoleum f

llpaper. The mismatched chairs. The

ught. She staged i

o I-" he

phone

t was the emergency override s

ne from the table.

t Sa

e speaker. It was loud e

back! Rick is bac

he sound of glass br

re changed instantly. Her should

l, her voice leaving no room for argum

. She grabb

past Council. She actually put her ha

back, surprised

nded. "Where a

ught. The boyfrien

r a split second at the top of the stairs, a flicker of panic in her eyes. What if Miller comes now? she thou

or one second. He t

Team Bravo, stay on the vehicle," he commanded, his voice low and controlled. H

down th

cab. She threw herse

o his sedan. "F

rhoods got darker, tighter. The houses wer

with Dr. Aris, the top ne

watching the taxi weave through traffic. "I want the new

to a halt in fron

t. She didn't p

or of the ho

security team's discreet body cams. He signaled his bodyguards to stay back but be ready. H

yelling befor

ney, Sarah? I kn

ed in on the

ed on the floor. A woman-Sarah-was cowering i

, held a bottle of whi

scream. She

the door and grab

L

on the wooden table. The

ed. He sp

e slurred. "Th

bat high. Her face was terrifying. I

w and steady, "and I will put you in the ho

was gone. This was a lioness. And as she moved, he saw her instinctively shift her wei

ed. He lun

ke into his earpiece.

opped the bat and pulled a s

i

. Direct hit

, stumbling backward, crashing int

over him, ch