MERCILESS HUNTER

slept in thi

cause

e of m

Malik was there smiling, watching, wh

ehind

ct

ys V

f and made him into something monstrous. But Cain knew now-he wasn't th

member who he used to be, M

t kill t

led to

, industrial,and forgotten. His contact said Malik had been spotted here two nights ago

enar

os

s finge

ping the rooftops across the block. He wasn't exp

ng under him? The

Ten men. All armed. Standard moveme

som

idn't

wat

it

ud

ught him: patience is a p

sharpened h

n rolled up. No li

dragging someo

ded f

ugg

breath

all frame.

ace, wro

o

was s

ess

e, locking on to t

ri

n.

ili

est ti

's s

ir

er Lena's murder. Gone

t well

had fo

erstood the mess

someone els

n m

a

backup. No

t f

ers screaming

rooftops, dropping silently between shadows, a kn

s didn't

efore they h

n time to see Cain's eye

not

lipped

st: oil, gunpowde

ed overhead. O

wrists, arms limp, blood dried at

mained

sick to hi

r ag

that agai

a step f

alted by

the d

sir. Some ghosts are

bles. Small, neat, and accurate expl

stake,

k declared, "She's not dead." Howeve

beg

g insane shone in his eyes A hun

mm

y he was colder, Sharper. As though all of hum

as steady and

was important to Lena.

oving like a preda

elf using their recollection. through f

nched hi

e spoke. "You'll have your opportunity. Ho

nt. Malik then too

d the

ctor's only success? Y

ee the small scar under his left eye-a scar Ca

ed you survive the missions. And every ti

eane

d to fix me. Becau

lun

er-detonator in ha

sto

guilt. Still chasing ghosts. Still afraid

was ice. "Wha

grin v

f your first murder. Not the blood. Not

mained

he rec

Malik took a step back and

to you, b

ppeared into

to Adira, neutralized the explosi

s inha

re

he was sti

to the shelter

thing trailed

Ma

tra

piph

intention o

ying to b

same pit of darkness Victo

ine between hu

en Ca

onster he fe

side in another safehouse. She slept

om was

uld feel

Mali

tor

that ne

Every drone. Every satellite. Ev

garette with

just bei

being s

t of the

the pr

ctor's p

ess

ed it a