ana

ight that promised another scorching day. The air in

gs packed and waiting. I walked out into the living room. Bryant and Katia were already

or 0900 sharp. You and your mother should go to the east entrance. Your transport is schedu

d calmly, picking up my bag.

. "What did you just say? Adriana, stop this. Stop cr

e east entrance," I

nt. "I am trying to save the future of economic theory, and you are staging some kind of pathetic,

al blow. Supported me? He had celebrated it. He had been

said, my voice dangerously

ers digging into my bicep. "You are not coming with us. You are going t

yant," I said, my gaze dro

ace inches from mine. "You are going to get yo

ed, I shoved him hard in the chest. He

I spat. "We are over. Remember

ide, growing louder and louder. It wasn't the rumble of the armore

onfusion. I just walked to the door and op

ding. Its design was military-grade, bearing the golden sunburst of

a pilot's uniform jumped out, rotor wash whi

?" he shouted

I calle

tight schedule." He moved to help my mother, treating

wed us out, their faces a

red, staring at the helicopte

umbled up to the curb. An attendant

shaky finger at Katia. "She's..

ng to her face, strutted toward t

ate. "My manifest is for Dr. Bryant Weeks and one family member, Adriana Weeks." He

.. we have a partnership

to Bryant. "The name on the family slot is Adriana Wee

rocess the bureaucratic failure of his grand plan. He too

icopter pilot had moved to stand between me and Bryant. "Ms

secure. On approach to Helios Prime. Passenger Wilk

ith a dawning horror and a furious jealousy, locked onto mine