on was a

high-value client,

tuff for m

ker. My fiancée Soph

Chased a phantom.

t men, Jack, took thr

ical. Might

rely out of basic, th

he FOB, I

and already protect

ormal apology to the team,

disciplinary acti

wasn't my fault.

ne. You disobeyed

an, please. He's young. It w

ually a balm,

, Sophia. His action

happened to Jack," she

He looked more anno

bate. He apologizes,

dened. A flicker of som

about this l

ever ha

ning, my wor

A priority alert from Marcus

t. Now." His v

the encryp

ack at me from a

o. Service history with the

ociates. Safe house l

ged n

e: $

d turne

a random d

targeted.

st. To

p, intimate access co

ph

the sudden, silen

er. Had to hea

mb, grabbing a m

alien. Every shadow se

y estate, a sprawling mans

sed a blind spot in their c

anicured gardens towa

ed on the morni

vapid socialite whose name

tually thought he could discipline

art s

't that a little... déclassé for a top o

ontempt. "I want everyone to know that Ethan Riker, the lege

on't he? Begging for yo

ing but a tool for the Walkers. A well-trai

do

ed until my knu

gged into my

d, her voice ch

inking of listing his known routes

ound of delighted horr

$3.33. Practically giving it away. Even the lowest street-lev

und cold seep

ust petty rev

d execution, designed for maxi

knew

escape route. Every pers

ed her. Completely.

flashe

mer, exposed the whole team. Two dead. I'd taken sh

ld have been watching him more cl

, bleeding, and sh

A three-month setup, blown because Kevin

a closed-door meeting where Sophia accused *me* of "poo

Be good to Kevin, Ethan.

just overprotective

clicked into a h

on a previous contract, had pulled

're just a high-grade tool for that Walker

ity had whisked him awa

ed to a desk job in A

d it as drun

rds were a

errace, moving silently

m past missions were no

gutte

family wasn

ere my

eld the key,

e their dog.

the future I'd imagined

i

, then let the piece

on m

o