INA

the ballroom entrance. Two guards stood at the doo

and talking. Karri clung to Jared's arm like she was

ne had procured. The guard glanced at it, then

o verify your Pack informati

reliable as she'd thought. If I was stopped her

ars studying security systems. I knew the layout of this hotel inside and out.

s expression shifted-from suspicion to surprise, then something close to unease

e, go in." He stepped aside with a stiff

a dark suit standing near the corridor entrance-one of the elevator group. He wasn't looking

in my stomach. Was that the s

't be sure. But the tim

de. I was in. That's what mattered. Whoever that man was,

pensive tuxedos. I grabbed a glass of champagne from a pas

cess to the

all door near the back of the stage, partially hidden behind a v

g guests. When I reached the door, I paused, glancing around t

ician sat hunched over a console, headphones on, completely absorbed in his

wo days ago. A few taps. A quick command sequence. The screen flickered for half a second-

ad

in, I could do it

y I came, the velvet curt

ghfare. From here, I had a clear view of the stage and the large projection screen above it. I could also see J

t the room.

ooking in my direction-seemingly engrossed in a conversation with the man beside him-but I couldn't shake the feeli

he kind of stillness that came from absolute control. The people around him deferred to

pers floated th

t at the V

e Alpha from the Northern

don't talk

was always murmured, always cut off before I could catch it.

bove everyone els

None of it mattered. Tonight, I had one job. Ton

variety of rare items. I stayed in my corner, a ghost in the

edator, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Ever