, one must first

judgment-loud, re

etween Amanda and Kane. The two stood face-to-face under the flickering bulb that h

Malachi

pward in a movement meant to maim-not kill. He twisted, dropped to one kn

ed once, slow

But improvement doesn't keep you al

heavy. "That wasn't res

people," Malachi snapp

brow. "What's

ned it. Inside was a red folder labeled with

hief Cale

nder the guise of a charitable foundation. His latest project? S

ay," Malachi said. "Underground. No cameras. Just d

hrough the pho

six posted outside. Most a

d closer. "A

ooked bet

At midnight, you get into his private lounge, take him out

nod

ked. "Sound

s is a message. Once the council sees that their elite a

ned to

to make t

dn't he

rn in the

ast – A Fl

Kane found Amanda sitting on the rooftop l

uietly. "You we

ook up. "I'v

e silence settle before asking,

. The cloth in her h

p through some council initiative. We found her body three weeks later

ed. "And no one wa

men who sponsored the 'initi

eyes

, "we don't just kill h

of the Kil

a fortress of

s hidden behind mirrored glasses. Inside, chandeliers hung over a dance floor soaked in r

oked through a high-end agency-thanks t

high. Kane, in black slacks and a shirt that clung to his frame

b, smiling, blending. All

ef Caleb Onuoha watched th

eaned close and whisper

here a hidden blade was sheathed. He

INUE

rose, Kane reached behind Amanda's back-touching the hilt of the blade she'd hi

ered, "we smile until

evator

like meat. One stepped forward to frisk Kane,

Caleb

n one hand, whiskey in the other. His belly strained against

ed in silk. "They said the entertainment tonig

ead demurely. "You

One behind the bar. One by the main door. Four total. Amanda had hidden a second blad

pointing at Amanda,

seat beside the monster who had

one. A girl I once sent to Europe. Gift

et and lethal. "Wh

"Never heard f

shift in Ama

s the t

e

leg under the table and burying the

e wine tray into the air, knocking two guards of

. P

do

the throat. Blood sprayed across h

s weapon, but Kane had already fired. H

ed to flee-Kane sho

Onuoha, now gurg

hispered in his ear,

it his throat-s

Es

ms b

s hand and raced through the suite, past the bodies, through the smoke and b

pe door and began descending the

lood coating her

t stop. "Y

ed concrete. They ducked into a maintenance hallway and fou

er's apron and wrapp

We walk out through

t, blood soake

stopp

the Sa

nda's wound in silen

ttered. "Sloppy esc

g back a finger. A trophy. Let the

ed. "It's

i said. "It'

y back, e

for us now,"

this girl who smiled at

t t

ting: The P

disturbed hive. Dike Obana stood

three weeks! Azubuike. Now

mbled. "Who is doing thi

at the fresh bloodstained photo laid before t

his is not just vengeanc

across the phot

he for

d hard. The bo

inue

Priest'

ed bruised and heavy as Kane slipped bac

lelight flickering against his deeply lined

priest said. "Club Nyx. Four

aid no

ry, Kane. Fed you. Taught you to read the Scriptures.

st," Kane said softly. "I'm j

eance is a cycle. Once it wraps ar

ned. "Then I'll b

no longer protect you. There are forces in this town older tha

turne

ld've stay

a's S

eout, polishing her weapons. Her side was stitched up

d her from

ou," she murmured, ey

at?" he

me. Back a

n't need

"You remind me of my brother. He was

loser. "What h

froze. Her v

The council said he ran away. But I found his

e killed so many of us. And

ed-and for the first time, there

. "When it's over... if it ever

hesit

won't. As long as

Shadows – T

alleys of the slums. A woman, face hidden beneath a h

ube sat waiting, swea

news?" he

oman

amed Malachi. Ex-military. Arms

forward. "And

Cold. He w

e need to stop them before

a sealed envelo

re they slee

envelope with s

ss y

oked up, the w

e

gain like a

et, unaware of the blinking red dot no

d rounds into a shotgun. "Good. You

ed. "What'

ling in private contractors. Not just thugs-*

rdened. "They kn

alachi said. "But it's

The lights flickered out.

istol. "That's no

pered, "Posi

sound that didn't belong-th

h

Pop

. Kane dived to the ground, drag

men screamed, t

i growled. "They'r

INUE

d an

h the side windows, armed with tactical rifles an

ne intruder flew back, hitting the concrete with a wet thud. Kane grabbed Ama

unned!" Ama

pulling out a smoke gren

across the room, blinding the enemy. Kane fire

om the corner, "Go

ving you!" Kan

aid

nder the hail of bullets. They slipped through

t fast

p behind them, slamming Amanda into the ground

nother attacker smashed a

ing wen

pt

oke to

a cold metal chair. He was inside a dimly lit room

ure sat acro

ilman

se-bags under his eyes

ed quite the

loor. "You don't know th

nored th

o wild dogs, Kane? They get

"Then you better b

ou're just like your father

ed. "Mention him a

way out. He was told-give up the land, take the m

d. "He died a man. Y

see how much screa

ped his

pened be

eone st

st From

t turn to se

-he recognize

lo,

o

l

ma

fro

..

Combat boots. Tactical ve

eo

dhood best friend. His

burie

ught h

own at him w

died in that fir

id. The girl you knew died. What

. "Why work for them? The

ouched, e

return, I learned the truth. Your fa

brainw

wake. And now I've bee

t her, a stor

And when I do... I'll remi

ckered-just

door slam

da's

ewh

moving van. Her arms

driver's seat. "You sho

ame man who'd taken her sister. The o

f Al

ed her wrists, feeling the bl

're gods of vengeance," Alozie s

her eyes, slow

he man beside her reached to

de went straig

iver s

the back doors open, a

ain flared-but she crawled, dragging hersel

for you, Kane,

eared into