usive residential tower. Cordelia couldn't get out fast enough. She shoved

pace. His eyes, however, darted to every corner of the concrete stru

ling, minimalist display of obscene wealth, featuring floor-to-

long hallway toward the smallest guest room. Her voice was p

oot in the master suite, never to touch her t

ic. He tossed his heavy canvas bag onto the livi

lian custom piece. Holden ignored her completely. He walked into

and downed half of it in one go. As his throat worked, the sharp line

flush of anger and embarrassment crawled up her neck. She spun around, marched int

smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. He

, checking the walls, light fixtures, and air vents. Satisfied

top. She initiated an emergency video conference w

t their grandfather had done, the audio peaked with their c

hey couldn't fight Alistair, they had to find a fatal weakness

itedly pitched a "PR trap"-lure him into a high-society event and mani

wall, Holden had already attached a micro bone-conduction lis

act stretches to maintain circulation and assess his body's condition, he li

e compromising photos, Holden paused mid-stretch. He l

ded to play along with their little game. It would provide the p

smoothed down her silk robe, and walked ou

door, but it swung open before she could touch t

f violence-crisscrossed with faded bullet grazes and jagged knife scars. Fresh, angry red lines from the glass sh

he snapped at him to put some clothes on, calling

tly as the fabric brushed against the fresh wounds. He leaned against the doorf

ively and offered him a hundred thousand dollars a month in cash, provided

s face. He agreed instantly, swearing he wouldn't

blatant greed disgusted her, but it also made

h the awkward, plastic tension of a fake mar

ed by darkness. Cordelia tossed and turned

d hours earlier. The remote protocol from the car had stabilized the genetic freefall, but it was a fragile, temporary dam holding back a flood. His body