“Stay behind me.”
We move up the stairs.
Tank waits at the back exit. One look at her and something hard settles in his face. Then he lifts her like she weighs nothing.
“Got her,” he says.
Sin nods once at me.
“Front room’s heating up.”
Good.
I turn back inside.
Ghost’s voice tight in my ear now.
“Salazar’s touching her arm. Talking close.”
My blood goes still.
“Blade,” Havoc warns.
“I’m moving.”
I take the hallway fast.
No stealth now.
The front office door is half open.
I see Violet.
Standing.
Hands visible.
Salazar too close.
Smiling.
He doesn’t see me step in.
He hears the door.
Turns.
Too late.
I cross the distance in three strides and drive my fist straight into his jaw.
No warning.
No speech.
Bone meets bone. His head snaps sideways. He stumbles back into the desk, knocking over a chair.
Violet flinches but doesn’t scream.
