edroom and swept a brief glance over the luxurio

ght for show, she pulled a plain black canvas duffel bag from the bottom

tch, and popped open a secret compartment. Inside lay a black encrypted

zipped it shut, and slung the strap over one shoulder.

ittanie rub her ankle, while Eleanor stood nearby with her arms cr

ty canvas bag hanging from Adelaide's

anor sneered. "If you think dragging your feet will

wayne's shoulder, looking

ange of clothes, and you don't ha

llowed past the gates, and it's a two-hour walk just to reach the main

disgust, tossing his pe

s just bluffing because she knows

the stairs, her dark eyes sweeping

airs because I'm allergic to chea

lothes and handbags behind for Brittanie.

igging hard into Dwayne's suit jacket. "Addie

yes to Eleanor, who w

h," Adelaide added, her vo

ld plating finally wears off your precious adopted daughter, try not to

pointed toward the foyer. "If you step one foot out tha

aide walked across the foyer and pull

, waiting to watch her trudge down th

a low, terrifying rumble vibrated right th

y gates were pushed wide open. Six matte-black, military-grade a

avement as they fanned out, completely locking do

could react, a deafening thunde

ng prized rose bushes straight out of the manicured lawn

ces from the blinding dust as three pure-black Bla

e the mansion's roof, their massive rotor bla

heavy tactical gear leaned out, the red dots of their laser s

d. The blood drained from his face as he stum

ammered, grabbing the edge of a decor

he doors of the six armore

achine guns stepped out. Moving with the terrifying precision of a presidenti

, strode briskly up the stone steps. He stopped three paces in front of Ade

pha has secured the perimeter

forward and respectfully relieved

ssion as calm and unbothered as if sh

the lab has been rus

, Ma

d leveled a cold, lethal stare straight throu

ayne's breath caught in his chest, a cold chill racing down his spine. Besi

terpiece SUV, shielding the top of the frame with his hand

d thud, Jax pressed two fingers to

e Apex. Initiate Level One defens

faded to a faint hum. Adelaide pulled the elastic band from her ha

as ever," she murmured, leaning b

r seat, Jax turned slig

t the project deadline. Should I request full airspace clearan

ace between her eyebro

t to catch twenty minutes of sleep, an

erst

he sky, rising into an escort formation overhead as the six armored

engines faded, the Booth ma

pen front doors, rustling the sca

ed against the wall, pressing both hands o

epartment of Defense plates! Why on earth would a fo

ight, trembling fists. As she stared at the empty driveway,

agents and military gunships? No! If Adelaide was actually some untouchable

, Brittanie looked around wildl

how could she know anyone in the milita

s damp forehead. The humiliation of being scared half to death by a

Dwayne barked, forcing his shaky

roof with laser sights, and a whole squad of men with submachine gun

asping at his words like a d

wasn't being picked up,

ayne stood up, pacing the floor as his

ve gotten mixed up with an international cartel or stolen top-secret governme

. "Then why did that leader salute

in immediately, dark relief flashing i

to keep the suspect calm so she doesn't detonate a bomb or take hostages. Didn't you see those sniper

ear vanished from Eleanor's face, replaced inst

ught she was just an uneducated dropout-I never imagined she was a federal felon. How dare s

bbed Eleanor's arm, her expre

name. Once her federal crimes hit the news, our family's reput

c and spun on her hee

ow and sever all legal ties with that convict befo