nle

for help, Shane lunged. He was a wall of muscle a

that!" he

ed scream tearing from her throat.

e, the sound of a struggle-shot through the ph

lusive restaurants, closing a nine-figure deal. The air was t

owed to the small black rectangle in his h

de everyone at the table fall silent. He gave Pierce a sharp, almost imperceptible nod,

appening?" he demanded into the

rasp. He looked at the screen, saw the active call, and let out

humb hovering over the speak

ver you are, the game's over. Finley's staying here. She's goin

om his chair. "You hear that? Th

s, the faint sound of Finley crying in the background. Pierce had never seen his cou

when he spoke, was preternaturally calm, a chilling

line," was

ended

llowed was more men

et me the East Sector security lead. I want the two-man team I sent to that address to lock t

as he ran. Someone was about to h

k at Finley. It clattered to the floor. "See?

ent on the floor. He'd hung up. Garrison

thread of hope i

ming. No one

her, so profound it felt like dying.

he had won. He took another step tow

something insi

light of a cornered animal. With a speed she didn't know she possessed, she

h all the force

e of Shane's forehead wit

stumbling backward, his hand flying to his head

mouths agape. They had never seen Finley

her chest heaving. "Stay away from me," she gasped, her voice a ra

finally snapping out of his shock.

t bangs echoed from the front door. Not a knock.

e, turning to

, stomping toward the entrance. He wren

sto

oad-shouldered, and radiating an aura of suc

recognition. They found Finley. Standing in the middle of the room, tremb

tiges of civility in his expression vanished

n the worn linoleum. He walked past Dozier as if he we

k, the world of the Mccart