ove Crest Tower wher

ached tile, an espresso machine no one but Brynn knew how to work, and a patio vi

in hand, sunglasses low on her nose, try

ing," she muttered, vo

d leaned on the railing beside

very move, breathes behind my ear, and apparent

sn't that literally what a

ng. Or sweating. Or breathing. Or b

u d

y it agai

tte. "So, what, you're ma

n a lab for high-functioning paranoia. I asked him what training

lip, trying

r a glare. "D

saying

nitely sayin

er, "that if I had a six-foot-two ex-special-forces secu

tail

d. Deal

Or his everything. It's about his vibe. He's always behind me.

ow. "So you think

lready has a full psychological profile of

... d

ha

uma and questionabl

and none of it is an

"So you do thin

ry

asking. Fo

sted. He's not even human. He's a soulless security algorithm in human ski

lly, "at least he matches th

rself. "Dark, sleek, and

act

in silence

e of the power plays and polished d

y. I give him a week before he transfers ou

"You really think he'

didn't

security camera above the café patio ha

ime all morning, sh

secure. He'd v

mounted security camera, patched through to his earpiece. The signal flickered with just enoug

eid didn

, feet planted beside an air handling unit, earpiece in, ar

in the fra

s and one security barrier's worth.

first client to

first to test th

s the p

mated. Reid had seen that kind of swagger before. It made protection twice

ckled through

oia... probably power

dn't

dropped since reaching the rooftop. Her breathing was slower.

tant. Not a bad insti

history. Weak passwords on every device. Susceptible to

e her vu

people out. She kept them close. Loya

te of the phrase: "

asn't

was, he didn

was here for silence, acces

ological profile of my childhoo

s righ

ad b

surviving family member: estranged mother, Caroline, lives in Oregon. F

ys knew

rotection history, and minimal awareness of her own internal threats. Her instincts were shar

r reach for h

Standing too near the ledge wit

to survive in a re

at was

dn't h

d

e, and Livia stepped out with a fresh cup o

ished floor. Her reflection glide

because Reid wa

the far wall n

fol

ir out o

at despite the ri

ing like he'

rrowed h

leave you on

aid, pushing off the

wn off by how fas

're alre

er wen

f sixth sense for ele

up. "I know when yo

sn't in danger. I

and to the left-never too close, never just a shadow. Alw

oftop that concer

t, t

dn't

er office door

e said. "Do you

N

yebrow. "That's

ug everything. Peo

oward him. "Or were you always like this-quiet, gri

shift. "You're the o

moment. "Is that supposed

posed to make

stopp

ot with triumph, not with

ed. "You think some

t answer

ffice door-and said, "Your assistant lef

a bl

t been in

ee it from

d out for five minutes. Are yo

ng she's

's l

ightly. "Loyal people

almost clinical. Not bitte

idn't l

iles on everyo

e patt

not an

oward the door. "Neit

her mouth,

he did kn

second to leverage. That anyone could

t like hearin

ke how certai

e that he noticed

he people she thou