I sat heavily in the chair beside Xiao Lian’s bed, the cold plastic creaking beneath me. Her shallow breaths came through the oxygen mask, steady but weak. Tubes snaked from her arms. Machines beeped their quiet rhythm.
I exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand down my face.
This is getting more serious than I imagined.
The sniper’s shot echoed in my mind like a taunt. That assassin hadn’t come for me. They killed their own man. Clean. Like tying up loose ends. But why leave me alive?
Twice now…
Twice they had the chance to kill me. And yet… nothing.
My jaw tightened.
Who knew about my trip here?
Besides Reynolds… and…
My thoughts drifted. My wife.
I shoved the suspicion down for now.
“Reynolds,” I called softly.
He looked up, weary but alert.
“Give me the flash drive.”
Reynolds pulle
