y

wded and too exposed. Tonight, however, I h

the rear. Fresh coffee mixed with customer conv

o deliver me intelligence on Cain's next action, but in

the door. Every instinct urged me to go, yet somet

tarted to

en

ath. She was not dressed in her regular formal wear; today she wore black jeans and

o fascinat

htly to evade her line of sight. She was not he

not importa

er eyes keen and probing. She was not h

as a

ck of my neck pricked

l

I reminded myself twelve times on

n the brink of the Lower District, from th

ot, something said I might

tively,

er sa

ne you could mistake. Riker. The pilfers. The myst

hose not to admit, I grabbed my c

rom him before he could react, I

he globe collapsed to just the two of us. He had a m

voice silky and quiet. "To

fired back. "What would a crook like yo

iated me. "Coff

"You're lying." You have someo

uld not quite identify. For someone who ought

coffee," I responded, mirrori

that made my back shudder. Ar

a c

R

ted. Not just because she was brilliant and tenacious b

nted difficu

now. "You ought to stop." You're

tand, she said, sta

escalating her risk

sensed the change right away. Two males came in,

by C

d

ounding now rather urge

d and looked over

already sta

s already

l

y to realize something was up. The two guys who had just arrived walk

nally,

? Keeping a calm

he said, hi

ry attitudes. Ryker's hand shot out,

sisted. "They'r

on do you prop

s slanted towards something dar

ould object. Too late, I understood what he

e said, his lips

ay, the two guys wore

ered in a hushed voice. "

tone increased his hold on me.

and I could see the identific

h

uy by the collar and slammed him into the closest

f? He snipped, his deep rumble

on-but I was quicker, kicking his leg out from b

ter of astonishment visibl

I was out

next. Ryker reached for my hand, yank

y

ing to die

that was my first thought. She had no idea w

if she f

l trying to regain my breath. Elena stood next to me, her

what exactly ha

said s

ke

id, my voice sterne

in over y

sponsible for tha

with nothi

her ac

l

irrit

ay his jaw tightened and his eyes flicked towards the d

in more than I co

o let him deal w

arms. "I will figure it out m

sed, his voice

h too dangerous? Since I am just

as if he may blow up momentarily. T

irs if you keep digging," he warned softl

ween us, full of topics neither

e a shadow, vanishi

eft him

t