ena

ily's legitimate fronts smelled of ex

ainst the polished tiles, heading straight for the a

sat behind her mas

profoundly uncomfortable, shifting her weight and keeping her

she mumbled, shuffling a

on the dark, polished wood of her desk. "And I need the operation

te movement, she pulled a thin gray folder

n-and all of your territories-have been permanently

took hold of my limbs

elow that was a five-year-old operational transfer agreement, authorizing shared cred

ge sat my signature. It

paper, my voice low enough that s

authority to process and manipulate all your classified documents. He signed off on it, and we couldn't que

at me to walk out, but I needed a foothold in

take

oved into a dark corner of the floor, right ne

ike I was a ghost. They averted their

by my desk, dropping a stack of

ith is our superior now. She's the Capo's wife. She has eyes everywhere-including i

jaw tight. "Than

p laminate of the desk. The screen flas

again. A

ook it up and pressed it t

ed, the pitch a half-octave too hig

ork

"I order you to stay out of our sight. Lilith is pregnant with my s

he background. Then, Lilith's voice drifted over the line, high-

ease, Serena. Just comply. Go home.

eaving me with the lo

blank monitor. The lingering scent of Lilith's floral

t the day the exile order came down. He had held my face, prom

he seed of a plan was taking root, and the first perso