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I wondered just how long they’d been waiting for me to leave the security of HQ The a Did they set it in motion as soon as I was spotted this afternoon? How did they know I’d still be out at twilight?

Did it really matter at this point? No All that ht

We entered the rings of warehouses, factories and businesses in the central area of the Citadel Looping around to the alley behind a sprawling structure, the lahters led me inside Before I stepped over the threshold, I dropped my last two bobby pins Piles of crates littered the floor, and ove around the at a set of stairs that disappeared down to the dark baseroup found a lantern and lit it A skittery prickle coated ination conjured up visions of a dank cell and being tortured I slowed Hands grabbedAt the bottom of the steps was a narrow hallway, and at the end was another door My insides turned to goo and I braced for the horrors that waited fordisappointed "Thought I’d get to see a show You versus The Mosquito on a rooftop venue"

Valek gestured with his bloody dagger to the four prone fored "Trapping you in a null shield wasn’t fair"

"Are they dead?"

"No"

"The Commander send you?"

"Yup" Onora studied Valek without e brown hair into a bun on top of her head "But you knew that already"

"It never hurts to pretend ignorance"

"Or to have people underestimate you"

"Yup" Valek wondered if that was a hint about her true abilities He’d expected her to aht That meant she was either crazy, brave or very confident He’d put his money on confidence

Onora stepped over The Mosquito’s sleeping goons When she ithin six feet, she pulled her daggers Valek excelled at knife fighting, but Onora had been trained by the saer than hiaze "Stay in Sitia with us We need you"

There was a split-second flash of hesitation in her gray eyes, and then it was gone "I gave o back on ed ed" When she didn’t respond, he added, "You’re taking orders froht only Janco talked thisto prevent an unnecessary death"