Burning empire

His fingers clutched the leather pouch like it was his last lifeline. Everything around him was

ek through the

sprinted past th

sed. "Where the

smug, and completely ex

like money. Not just clean or new-but rich. The kind of scent you d

nced at the

ngine

jackpot," he whispered. "This

wheel. "Okay, Matteo. You survived, you scored, and

"Wait... I don't

ten in an alien language. "Okay. Okay. How ha

d for the

li

al. Pressed gently again

teo

" he groaned.

him. "Move again, and your blood's

in slow motion. "Not tou

e voice again-steady, unamu

ny story, really. I was just o

y ag

was being chased. You know how it

hen, sharper: "Wh

esitated.

y ag

them. Maybe too many. Honestly, I don

om the back sea

e air shifted. This wasn't some random driver. Whoever he was, he

ely not by t

pulled the gun bac

, hands still in the air. "Look, I didn't mean

id coolly. "You're cl

lly got a good look at

inter steel. He didn't look angry. He loo

Matteo said. "You

No

auff

No

itm

was a

inked. "Wa

planning to giv

. "I'm unarmed and underfed. Y

faintest smile.

itated. "Wh

sked

ghed. "Fin

Matteo. Looks like you just

indow. The street was emp

appens now?

hly. "On who those keys belong to..

d. "So you do

guy who's just stolen from peop

d. "And how do you kno

ed, eyes narro

se I wo