the air when Faye felt it-a subtle shift in

ste time turn

scle memory from a life she was only just beginning to

sliced through the fabric of her dres

entum, stumbled forward into the empty

motion, she swung her leg around in a perfect roundhouse kick.

dull, sick

psed like a puppet with its strings cut, the swi

n the space of a

topped dead, the scene he had expected to interrup

place w

ted men, standing perfectly composed. S

s wide as saucers as he took in the carna

on to the two men who had appeared at the edge of the alley. Her g

mmense wealth. But it was his presence that was overwhelming-a palpable aura of powe

gazes

other. He saw no fear in her eyes, no adrenaline-fueled panic.

n whose quiet intensity matched her own. Wh

as broken by the wail

n, slip a phone back into his

hing she wanted was a prolonged interaction

Chloe, who was still pressed against the wall, trembling. Faye's

eyes filling with tears of gratitude. "Thank you,"

im as they took in the scene. One of them approached Faye.

sture straight. "It

ng men on the ground to Faye's slender fr

resonant baritone that commanded attention. "We can confirm

shakable authority, seemed to se

reciate the cooperation. I'm going to need all of you t

a moment of random violence-all looked towards the flashing ligh