Chapter 38
The mall was packed with holiday shoppers, their arms full of bags and their faces flushed with seasonal cheer. Christmas music played overhead, competing with the chatter of families and the cries of overtired children.
Harper pushed through the crowd with Sebastian close behind, both of them wearing baseball caps and sunglasses despite being indoors. After the confrontation with Richard in the Adriatic three days ago, their faces had been all over the news. They needed anonymity, at least for a few hours.
Richard was in custody now, the triggers disarmed, the Adriatic saved. But the media frenzy that followed was suffocating. Reporters camped outside their building. Helicopters followed their car. Everyone wanted the inside story of the dramatic rooftop standoff.
So they h
