BLACKTHORN'S GAME

arper than

r's, even when she was clearly out of her depth. Most interns crack

ys tes

insisted. Public image and all that. Blackthorn Corp was gr

erested in l

cisely why I pushed. I wanted to see how she reacted to being cornered. Anyone ca

held

se wrapped in thrift store charm and too much optimism. I didn't trust it.

o figure out

14

hts blinked like lazy fireflies. Below, the chaos of the street con

way I l

in my hand. The ice had alrea

up her fi

ady had a full background check run on

was fifteen, her mother moved them upstate. One sibling, younger brother.

. Too

didn't match the paper. Something that sa

e and dialed Mar

on the first

to her internal comms, files, and a keyca

use. "Any spec

She's either going to be one of the sm

etter than to offer an opinion w

e screen. A photo pulled up-

folder I gave her

a what she was

-

– The

ly eight-oh-three. Not ni

a thumb drive and

ckthorn," she said, no

esk, neat. No nervous fidgeti

ing, clear arguments, sharp suggestions in the margin. She

?" I asked wit

tated. "

ia

pa

one," she s

hed. Almost a

I said. "Desk 47, temporary access. Marcus will send you your

s,

o leave, the

ed me?" she asked quietly.

oked

em, not rebellious, not naive, just... burning. Lik

st

because you're the

n't fall. Sh

the girl who builds her own doors knows

le

she n

nge ac

Her walk, confident, but not lo

ing to be i

dang

r shielded aw