The tension inside Xavier's chest had never sat this heavy before. Not even during the bloodiest negotiations. Not even during the first time he held a gun at age thirteen and pulled the trigger.
But tonight, every muscle in his body was wired tight as steel.
The hallway was silent, like it held its breath.
And then Xavier saw him.
Edward Blackwood.
The man was standing in front of a massive arched window, his silhouette outlined by moonlight. He hadn't changed...same sharp-cut suit, same steel-gray hair slicked back, same presence that could silence a crowd without uttering a word. Two guards stood by the doors behind him, faces expressionless.
"Xavier," the man said without turning around.
Xavier's fists clenched. He took a deep breath and walked forward. Cody followed but hung ba
