office. The names of five junior engineers, Ava' s i

watched her father' s hand, steady and sure,

led on

lded it

brief second, then he re

a gasp from one of the oth

a smirk playing on his lips from his earlier co

shing himself off the

issed the others. "Ava, tell him no. You do

chosen?" Ava said, her voice flat.

echoed in the st

iam stammered. "I'll talk

shock on his face was real, but so was the

new resolve hardening

t's too dangerous, too primitive. Your

flict in his eyes. He'd set this in motion with his "friendly wager," his belief i

dy. "It's an assignment. And Dad made a commitment." She also n

us Thorne is a good man, Ava. He' s tough, but f

ring, but it just added a

work boots, a lump in her throat she couldn't swallo

, his eyes red. "Don't go. I w

his grasp. His sudden concern felt hollow after his earlier

a was vaguely thankful

ormal hug. "Do good work, Mill

ghest praise

e company truck that would take her to the r