uards in black suits stepped onto the altar. They flanked Ar

r chest, letting her jaw hang s

p into the heavily fortified Branch family estate. The car stopped in front

face was carved from granite. She didn't say a word. She turned a

e oak doors. She pushed them open, step

ating shades of charcoal and steel. The air conditi

to the door, sat Finn Branch. He was in a

ut behind Areli. The sound

e wheels of his chair

as clenched tight, the muscles jumping beneath his skin. He radiated a

g the rabbit. She hunched her shoulders, making herself look a

e. "Don't think for a second that surviving that circus today m

nted to a narrow, black leather sofa sho

u make a sound, if you touch anything,

carpet, clutching the rabbit, and threw herself onto the far corner of the sofa. She pulled her

ouldn't stand the sight of her. He spun his wheel

ter, the heavy drumming of water hitting

unning, the terrified, infatuat

straight. Her eyes

shrugging the heavy lace off her shoulders to reveal a black, high-tech fiber bodysuit underneath. It was thin as a second skin, perfectly c

ket of her skirt and pulled out

er eye. The holographic keyboard flared to life, castin

Spectr

get file: Ferd Branch

ing in absolute silence. She bypassed the first

ll company. A massive data cache of illegal wire

A green progress bar appeare

60%..

f the running water i

reath caught in her throat. She didn't move h

.. 9

f the bathroom doo

%. Downloa

over the watch face.

anket from the arm of the sofa. She yanked it over her head, burying her face i

oom door

stepp

in the w

ning down the hard, defined muscles of his chest and abdomen. A white towel

bar and poured a glass of water. As he drank, hi

the top of her head was visible. Her chest rose a

f. To fall asleep that fast in a stranger's room

ad absolutely no idea that the woman sleeping on his sofa had j