ng - Aetheri

sed glass door like it was a mirror reflecting every poor

her desk, startled. "

the

ma's voice drew si

y, lips parting.

," Emma said coldly. "You handed it

mask c

al records. They said they'd revoke her coverage. That they'd make it look

are didn'

in you. But they knew everything. Where I live. My debt. My sist

g heavy move behin

a small,

aid. "Said it was already over. That I'd made

idn't

theft. It was a message.

m's loyalty to co

t. Effective immediately. I'll ensure your mother's care is tran

ght. "You're not..

sitated

see you near my company again, I'll destr

back a sob.

out without

heris Priv

retched below her in jagged silver lines, but she couldn't focus on the horizon. Her though

t just cros

ritten t

ath and reache

ered on the

ay?" he

said. "And

hesitation. "

- Huds

e shop, the kind of place where venture dreams came to life in code and col

rything-Carla's confession, the recordi

here, one hand in his pocket, the other

y. "He's not just targeting your

"He wants t

buy what

ed closer. "S

lready

y own. Former Helix cybersecurity heads, counter-sleut

. "Why would

d him try to break people like you befor

d him for

nt when we're a

tly. "I don't have

fted. "But there's some

stiff

back from you. From Aetheris. They think our-" he sear

"Do they know about t

e exhaled. "Frank's been talking

t have t

he said flatly. "That I'm

e future, and they're scared I'll fo

tensed. "

pped c

ready

vitation, without w

n't im

as q

ibe

w this war is bigger than either o

d, Emma's hands

able with someone who's still

't be. Be sharp. Be fire. I'll

t - Donov

in his penthouse, stari

ugh the encrypted bur

olved. We've intercepted two Aetheris comms threads

iled to

Let them run their

der

ipped h

aid, "we pl