The voice on Nikolai's phone was familiar in a way that sent ice through his veins—not fear, but recognition. He'd heard recordings of this man. Vincent Cross, the lawyer who'd orchestrated attacks against Blake Sterling years ago. The man who'd supposedly died when Blake's counter-operation collapsed a tunnel on him."You're supposed to be dead," Nikolai said.Vincent laughed, low and bitter. "So are you, if Blake Sterling had his way. Seems we both have a talent for survival."Nikolai paced the safe house, still furious about the fake USB drive. "How did you survive? The reports said—""Reports lie. I made sure of that." Vincent's voice carried the satisfaction of a man who'd executed a perfect con. "The tunnel collapse was real. But I wasn't in it. I had my assistant there instead—a man who looked enough like me from behind, wearing my jacket. When Blake's people confirmed a body, they stopped looking.""Where have you been?""Rebuilding. Watching. Waiting." Vincent paused. "I've s

Blake stood in his office, holding the blood-soaked blanket with gloved hands. Sam was photographing it from every angle, documenting evidence they'd never use in any court. This wasn't about justice anymore. This was about survival.Emma appeared in the doorway. She'd been in the next room when the package arrived. One look at her face told Blake she already knew."Show me," she said.Blake hesitated. "Emma—""Show. Me."He held up the blanket. Watched his wife's face go from pale to red to absolutely white. Her hands clenched into fists. Her breathing stopped, then started again too fast."That's not—" Blake started. "The blood isn't real. It's probably animal blood, staged for effect."Emma walked forward, took the note from his hand. Read it slowly. "'Choose.' They want us to choose which of our children dies.""They're bluffing. Trying to scare us—""They killed our baby!" Emma's voice cracked like a whip. "They killed our unborn child with stress and attacks and now they're thre