sted the

aw fl

efensive, spoiled, and volatile-just as her file suggest

e other end c

even been on th

to make this easy. She thinks she's in co

of si

u know what'

lking by. Some glanced at the SUV, some didn't. None

update you again aft

d. And

es,

not just a mission. She's bait

ne wen

ut didn't close his eyes. He never did-not in pub

e sun crept higher. S

ight, eyes alert, not a trace of exhaustion in hi

he app

ing with the confidence of som

itting in the driver's seat, exactly as she'd

...

flickered in her eyes. Surpr

it came, it vanish

rms folded, chin tilted

opened the back door

't enter

m as if sizing up a new enemy. "You just sit

dn't

"You think you're different from me? W

he said

closer. "That one slip-up. That one tiny mistake. Just one. And

ng in the ai

ply stepped back slightly a

t, Miss W

"One day, that professional

head politel

imbed into the car, and slammed

en, Liam di

click, walked around the vehicle, and

d. Uns

choed with the last thing h

e. She's not just a m

bait was more dang

, Liam wasn't the on

arely touched the ignition when Ariana's phone-tossed

p, expecting anot

saw made her

gers tr

instantly.

She simply turned th

s a v

. At t

the same blurry, shaky cl

high qualit

Crystal clear. Watching her lo

orst

age belo

're ne

ntire bo

he engine and hit the accele

handle as the SUV s

is going on?!

yes were sha

een comp

she stared at the screen, the messa

es whitened. "Who the hell is 'X'?" she asked,

ability. Liam glanced at her briefly through the

"X" was, Liam didn't look surprised-they'd cl

ect. And not

to a narrower, less visible path surrou

g?" she demanded. Liam tapped his earpiece on

is isn't a random scare tactic. Someone wants you

before she could get a word out, Liam

live

the Westbr

the grainy footage-

pt

figure now se

her br

straight at th

t's my room." Her eyes stayed glued to th

my bra

ering wheel tightened, the leather creaking faintly beneath hi

." Ariana recoiled into the seat like she could p

, her last illusion

ed, but Liam had no answer. Or mayb

age beneath an unmarked building, Li

things. We'll only be here a few hours.

ou?" His gaze met hers in the r

.. yes." She almost laughed, a bi

it, but he didn't deny it either.

a restricted message. He opened it-and his

h

beside

s than a

side th