Page 107 of Perfect Order

Thorn reaches into his back pocket and pulls out his wallet again. He flips it carelessly toward Keene, who snags it out of midair to open it. After scanning the contents thoroughly, he tosses it back. “Do you think the picture of your kids with the director adds something?” Keene asks scathingly.

Thorn shrugs. “The wife added it. I know better than to touch it.”

Keene’s snort causes a grin to cross Thorn’s face.

“Who do you need?” Caleb asks, cutting through the bullshit.

“McCullough for Leanne, Sam for the tech. Too bad Cal’s in DC, Sam; it would be just like old times.”

Sam rolls his eyes. “Go to hell, Thorn. The only time you and Cal get along is when the wives are around to mediate. Now, let’s go get ourQ?za.”

“MyQ?za,” I clarify. “And leaving is an excellent idea.”

Thorn turns his cobra-like stare on me. “Because it’s your birthday, McCullough, I’ll let you get away with calling the shots once.”

“Because it’s my birthday, I’ll let you live for letting her go into this with no backup. Are you out of your ever-loving mind?” I get up into his face, comfortable now that I’m on my own turf and I know he can’t dump my body. Well, maybe he could still manage it but not without a hell of a lot of cleanup.

A hand clamps down on my shoulder. I spin and meet Sam’s aggrieved face. “Frequently. But it makes him exceptional at what he does. If he’s here, it means he knows he fucked up. Let’s get on the plane and get comms established.”

I step back and stomp toward the elevator without a word when I hear my name called. “Yeah?”

Thorn’s head is downcast. “She’s always been strong, fierce. She would have hated for me to coddle her, but it’s instinctive to want to. You have to remember, she’s been trained by the best.”

“You?”

“Myself and others. Plus, she has incredible intuition. If she’s hidden herself away, there’s a reason. The threat against her is very real.”

“So we could be placing her in more danger?” I take a step forward to throttle Thorn after all. Sam grips my arm to hold me back.

“It’s too late now. We’re going to have her back if she needs help. Everything else is up to her. It always has been.”

Chest heaving at the picture his words paint, I yank my arm away from Sam before storming away from the group.

I need to lay eyes on Leanne. Then, my heart can rest, even if my mind won’t until she’s out of danger.

Unknown:What do you want?

Unknown:The access key to Dioscuri.

Unknown:Acceptable.

Unknown:What do you want for it?

Unknown:More than you’ll ever be able to give me.

Unknown:We’ll see about that.

Unknown: Message unable to send.

Kane

She’s alive! Erzulie was spotted at her sister’s grave sporting some of this winter’s brightest winter gear. From a distance, it was difficult which twin she was. For just a moment, Erzulie held herself with Leanne’s mannerisms. With her hair twisted up, much like the older Miles sister was notorious for wearing, it was as if the other sister had risen from the snowy grave Erzulie was singing over.

Who knows how long she’ll be in Silverthorn, so if you’re out to get your hands on her, this may be as close as you get unless you’re super fast.

— StellaNova

In the few hours since we’ve landed in New Hampshire, everyone has been called in. Sam, Thorn, his agents, and I are on a teleconference with an assortment of Hudson agents, including Caleb and Keene. Much to my surprise, Thorn ordered Leanne’s parents to be brought in. “It’s time they know everything.”