Jackson Clements watched the world through a military-grade tact

linking. It had broken through the last firewall. It pulsed with a steady, final

n the front seat said into his radio

n was in, immediately changed lanes, their movements synchroniz

e cold winter air rushed in, but it di

nted sedan into a temporary parking spot. Her ha

seat, her face pale. A second later, she gagged, viol

ng the crowds on the sidewalk, hi

n't drive while her daughter was choking on her own sickness; the distraction was lethal. She spotted a vendor on the

in her wallet, pulling out a few crumpled bills and slamming them onto the metal counter, her e

and a thick stack of paper towels, the sou

d snapped tow

ates had aggressively blocked the intersection, t

open by a bodyguard. A long leg, clad in e

e rest

e radiating an aura of absolute power and menace

s heart

ll from her hand, splashing col

mbrella of the food stand, her body acting on pure, primal

. It snapped back. His brow furrowed, his eyes narrowing as

ed at the nape of her neck. It was a ghost image, a memory

started walking, his pace quickeni

ure. The survival instinct that had been dormant for

, a blur of beige against the gray

s suspicion. A low growl rum

hroat, a sound of disbelief

practically fell into the seat. Her trembling hand jabbe

feet away, his hand reachin

shrieked on the asphalt as the sedan shot out o

he sleeve of his suit, the wind from

street as the black sedan swerved violently and disappe

est heaving, his face

oared at his security chief, who

eart hammered against her ribs. Her hands were so sl

His small fingers flew across the keyboard, attempting to hack into the city's tr

etooth earbud into h

voice a raw, ragged sob. "

, stripped of all its usual levity, came through, sharp and clear. "I h