ry
YEARS
smelled of old money, expen
was where the world's elite came to buy things that weren't supposed
polished, untouchable persona of "Ava." I wore a floor-length gown of midnight
er life five years ago. I stood with a spine of
bowed slightly as he approached. "The co
er than my natural tone-a trick I had perfected. "Mak
cour
the secure VIP area backstage. Swiping my keycard, I ste
a criminal mastermind's lair and m
ive years old, were scatter
th a laptop balanced on his knees, his small fingers flying a
d drone, its schematics glowing on his screen. "I can make it faster," he mut
So
down onto the arrival hall. She was eating a pink
ithout looking up from his scree
und a mouthful of cookie.
bad guys," Noah correcte
before heading back out to oversee the floor. Once back on the balcony, I
as still pressing her n
low, a fleet of black SUVs pulled
out of the l
ke armor. His hair was slightly greyer at the temples than it had been five years ago, his
ght. NHL
watched Sophie freeze.
It was a picture she had stolen from my lockbox a year ago. A picture of Blake and me on a b
photo up to
ispered through the camera's
is typing. He slid one headph
let. His eyes went w
e said solemnly. "
The playfulness vanished. In its place was a sca
res?" Noah as
ngers flying back over the keys.
ill shot through my veins. I wrapped my arms aroun
ng through thestarted, hammering against m
nd. Blake was legitimate sports elite. He sho
ooking for some
e. "Block the backstage access. No
ored. He looked dangerous. His eyes swept
saw
h the distance, I felt the physical impact of his stare. He
uptly, my breath com
y-cam feed on my phone. The video was beginning to glitch-Caleb was establ
n the corner of the pla
spered through the crackling a
said, tapping his screen
ophie said, following No
, pressing the tw
een wen
sig
I whis
le
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