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The holograph blinked out, leaving Miriahtfully empty

With aher, and they were at once filled with the newsfeed At the sas were about to get worse One second, the talking heads of the news opinion show filled the screen facing Miriam; the next, the feed cut to show the terrace on the sixty-sixth floor of the research facility

“Miriam Shepherd has declined to meet the deadline we set for her,” Susan said into the camera She held up the detonator, and the scientists behind her paled Tept openly

Pathetic

“We have generously extended her deadline by another hour Be aware—all consequences ofthe deadline to establish a fair and open election lie squarely with the CEO of CommTECH Her reluctance to disturb members of the board in relation to our demands proves once and for all that the leaders of the territories do not care about their people Any of their people Even their world-class scientists whoMiriaht you will have yet h?” Her thumb pressed on the box

Behind her, the band around the head of one of the scientists glowed There was a gut-wrenching scream as bloodred tears poured down the woman’s cheeks A second later, she sluer The lead scientist proray and vomited

Perfect

“Clean up the mess,” Susan ordered her team It was unclear whether she meant the vomit or the dead woman

Wild, terrified sobbing could be heard from the crowd as the camera focused back on Susan’s face “This is war And war has casualties Freedo for our children For our future We will no longer allow big business to enslave our people No matter the cost” She took a step closer to the camera “You have one hour, and then so et twelve board e blinked out

This tiht at the screen

Chapter Nineteen

“Being the rescuer is sothe person rescued,” Keiko said as they made their way into the empty penthouse apartment

She was giddy with her success and high on the adrenaline It was a good look on her Her eyes sparkled, her cheeks were flushed pink, and her s She threw herself into the corner of one of the vast white sofas that do area of the apartment An apartment that was decorated in shades of cream; even the art was black and white She stood out in the sterile space like a rose in the desert

A bruised rose

The rabbed her when she fell were abhorrent to hiood reason, he still couldn’t bear to see bruises on her skin—especially ones he’d caused