CHAPTER 26 - THE MOLE IN THE FORCE
The early morning haze hung low over the precinct parking lot, soft and grey, like fog trying to muffle the world. The weight of the previous night pressed on Ella's chest. Larry hadn't slept. She hadn't either. Not after what they'd seen-the video feed of the woman bound somewhere unknown, the orchestrator's mocking voice echoing through the warehouse, the truth laid bare in that metal case Larry opened with trembling hands.
Now, the stakes had shifted.
The game was faster.
More sinister.
More intimate.
Larry sat beside her in the car, staring forward, shoulders rigid. He wasn't fully Larry this morning. She could feel it. Wraith's instincts were too awake, too sharp, too unsettled.
And yet... he reached over, brushing his fingers against hers.
A small gesture.
A human one.
One that grounded him-kept him from vanishing into the assassin he used to be.
"Ella," he murmured without looking at her, "once we walk through those doors, everything changes."
She nodded. "Because they'll know we know."
"No," Larry said, finally turning to her. "Because someone inside this building already knows everything."
The words hit her like ice.
"Larry-"
"There's a mole in the force," he said quietly. "And they're feeding the orchestrator every move we make."
Ella turned to the building-her building-her home, the place she'd trusted for years. The idea of betrayal inside those walls felt like a knife twisting beneath her ribs.
"We expose them," she whispered.
Together.
Larry's jaw tightened. "But carefully. Because if we make one wrong step-"
He didn't finish. He didn't need to.
The wrong step would get someone killed.
Maybe the woman.
Maybe Ella.
Maybe him.
The precinct felt different when they walked in. Not physically-same peeling paint, same flickering light down the hallway, same smell of burnt coffee from the break room-but the atmosphere had changed. Or maybe she had changed.
Eyes turned toward them.
Some curious.
Some judgmental.
Some calculating.
Ella felt those eyes weigh her down. Larry felt them too, though he didn't slow his stride. He moved like a man built from purpose. She admired that-or feared it-she wasn't sure which.
Lieutenant Harris approached first. He was always too friendly, too eager, too proud of his charm. Today, his smile felt rehearsed.
"Detective Rivera," he greeted with a grin that didn't reach his eyes. "Glad you're back. We were worried."
Ella forced a polite smile. "Just needed some air."
Harris's gaze flicked to Larry-measuring him, studying him. Larry didn't blink.
"You brought your... witness?" Harris asked, voice dipping between curiosity and suspicion.
Larry answered before Ella could. "I'm here as her protection."
Harris nodded slowly. "Of course. Well, if you need anything... anything at all..." He paused, leaning in too close. "You let me know."
Larry's body tensed, subtle but unmistakable.
Ella touched his arm, grounding him.
"Thank you, Lieutenant," she said.
As Harris walked away, Larry whispered, "His heartbeat changed."
Ella blinked. "What?"
"He's nervous. Trying to hide it. He knows something."
She didn't know whether to be impressed, alarmed, or both.
But Harris wasn't her only problem.
Detective Vaughn sat at his desk, pretending to type, but his gaze kept flicking toward them. Sergeant Cole avoided eye contact completely-unusual for someone who usually couldn't stop bragging about his weekend fishing trips.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Larry leaned close. "They're not just looking at us. They're looking for something."
"And they're afraid we'll find it first," Ella whispered back.
Ella guided Larry to an unused conference room, shut the blinds, and locked the door. Larry swept the space, checking corners, windows, vents, even under the table. He did it without thinking-Wraith-level instinct-and yet it didn't frighten her. It made her feel... safer.
Larry finally nodded. "Clear."
Ella dropped her file folders on the table, hands shaking.
"I've been compiling everything," she said, opening a folder filled with scribbled notes and printouts. "Calls, patrol logs, internal memos, access requests from last month-"
Larry's eyes scanned everything at a speed that made her dizzy.
"Pattern?" he asked.
She hesitated. "I didn't want to believe it. But... there is one."
Larry leaned closer, shoulder brushing hers, voice low. "Show me."
Ella pulled out a printed sheet covered in hand-drawn arrows. "Every time we make a move-every single time-the orchestrator either blocks us, ambushes us, or pushes us into a trap."
"Inside knowledge," Larry said softly.
"Yes. But it's more than timing. Look-every blocked move correlates with just three officers who had access to my case files."
Larry's jaw tightened. "Harris. Vaughn. Cole."
Ella's breath caught. "Yes."
"But there's more," she whispered, pulling out a patrol report. "See this? Vaughn requested access to my secure logs two hours before the warehouse ambush."
Larry's eyes darkened. "He knew where we were going."
"And Cole?" She lifted another file. "He rerouted a team last week-away from the docks-during the exact hour the orchestrator's shipment came in."
Larry's voice was low and tense. "Harris has been pushing you to drop the case."
Ella nodded slowly. "Because he wants the investigation to die."
Larry stood, pacing. "But it can't be all three. The orchestrator wouldn't risk multiple moles. Too messy. Too many variables."
"Then which one?" Ella whispered.
Larry stopped.
Still.
Silent.
In perfect focus.
"The one who's been closest to you."
Her stomach dropped.
"Ella," Larry said gently, "who knows you better than anyone in this precinct?"
She swallowed hard.
There was only one answer.
Ella sank into her chair, hands covering her face. "No. He wouldn't. Not him."
Larry crouched beside her. "Look at me."
She did-and his eyes were steady, anchoring her.
"We can't afford emotional blind spots," he said softly. "Not now."
"I know," she whispered. "But he's been my partner for four years."
Larry's voice remained gentle but firm. "That gives him access. Access to your routines, your instincts, your reactions. Access to you."
A tear finally slid down her cheek. She hated that-showing weakness in front of him-but he didn't judge. He didn't even blink.
"Ella," he said, "who is he?"
"Marcus," she whispered. "Detective Marcus Reed."
Larry's expression didn't change, but the tension in his shoulders did-like a wire pulled tighter.
"Tell me everything," he said.
Ella wiped her cheek, trying to steady her breathing. "Marcus has always been... solid. Dependable. He covered for me when my mom was sick. He took shifts for me. He was there after Sam... after my breakup. He noticed things no one else noticed."
"Too much familiarity," Larry murmured.
"He's not like that," she snapped.
Larry's eyes softened. "I'm not judging you. I'm assessing danger."
Ella exhaled shakily. "Marcus has been... protective of me. Sometimes too protective. He always wants to know where I'm going. Who I'm with. He said it's because he worries."
Larry's voice darkened slightly. "Possessiveness disguised as concern."
"No," she whispered. "He's not like that. He-"
Her phone pinged.
She looked down.
A new message.
Unknown number.
Her stomach turned.
He's already made his move, Detective.
But by the time you realize it... it'll be too late.
Larry snatched the phone, eyes scanning the text.
His voice dropped to a chilling calm.
"The orchestrator knows about Marcus."
Ella shook her head violently. "No. No. This could be misdirection."
Larry glanced toward the door.
"Or a warning."
Ella pulled out the final folder she'd been too afraid to open.
Security flagged it yesterday.
Someone tried to access her confidential case files using Marcus's login.
"Larry," she whispered, "look."
Larry took the document, eyes narrowing. "Failed login attempt. Password reset. Two attempts to override the security layer."
"And look at the timestamp," Ella said.
Larry froze.
"During the warehouse ambush."
Ella nodded.
Her chest felt hollow.
Marcus couldn't have been on scene. He was supposedly running patrols across town.
Supposedly.
Larry stepped closer, voice gentle. "Ella... I know this is painful. But we have to follow where the evidence leads."
She shook her head weakly. "What if it's not him? What if someone used his credentials? What if-"
Larry put a hand on her shoulder.
"Then we find out," he said softly. "Together."
Ella nodded. "We start discreetly. We look at access logs, badge swipes, bodycam history-"
But Larry had gone still.
Completely still.
"Ella," he whispered. "Someone's outside the door."
Her breath faltered.
"Who?" she mouthed.
Larry's hand drifted toward the metal ruler on the table-anything that could be a weapon.
A shadow shifted under the door.
Ella's heartbeat thundered.
Larry leaned in, lips near her ear.
"On my signal, move behind the desk."
Ella swallowed hard.
Nodded.
The doorknob turned slowly.
Larry positioned himself... ready to strike.
The door creaked open halfway.
Ella held her breath.
Larry's body tensed.
Then-
A familiar figure stepped into the room.
Detective Marcus Reed.
Ella's heart stopped.
His eyes flicked from her... to Larry... to the files scattered across the table.
His expression was unreadable-too calm, too controlled.
Marcus shut the door behind him quietly.
Locked it.
Larry moved subtly between Ella and Marcus.
Ella forced her voice to stay steady.
"Marcus... what are you doing?"
Marcus's gaze hardened.
And for the first time in four years, Ella saw something cold behind his eyes.
Something calculating.
Something dangerous.
"Ella," Marcus said softly, "we need to talk."
Larry's hand curled slowly around the ruler.
Ella whispered, "Marcus... what did you do?"
He tilted his head.
"Ella," he said gently, "I would never hurt you."
Then he smiled.
A slow, unsettling smile that didn't touch his eyes.
"But him...?" He nodded toward Larry.
"That's different."
Ella stood, voice cracking. "Marcus-stop."
"No," he said quietly. "You don't understand."
He stepped closer.
"I've been trying to protect you from him."
Larry's jaw clenched.
Ella felt her world tilt, her breath vanish.
Marcus continued, voice low, trembling with emotion-or something darker.
"Ella... don't you see? I've been helping you for years. Guiding you. Watching over you. Keeping you safe. And you brought him into our lives? This man-this ghost-this threat?"
He stepped closer.
And whispered:
"I had to act."
Larry's voice was deadly calm. "Act how?"
Marcus smiled again.
"The orchestrator was right," he murmured. "You were getting too close."
Ella felt her stomach twist violently.
"No... Marcus... tell me you didn't."
He looked at her with heartbreaking softness.
"I did it for you."
Larry stepped forward, eyes dark. "What did you do?"
Marcus looked at him like he was nothing.
"I made sure she wouldn't get hurt."
Ella whispered, voice cracking, "Marcus... what the hell did you do?"
Marcus's expression turned cold.
"The woman," he whispered. "The one they took."
Ella felt the blood drain from her face.
"What about her?" she rasped.
Marcus exhaled.
"She's only alive because I needed leverage."
Ella staggered back.
"No. No. Marcus, please-"
He took a step toward her.
"Ella... I'm the one who delivered her location to the orchestrator."
Larry lunged forward.
Marcus pulled something from his jacket.
A badge.
A keycard.
A flash drive.
He tossed them onto the table.
"Every move you made," he said quietly, "I made sure they knew."
Ella's voice broke.
"Marcus... why?"
He whispered:
"So you'd finally listen to me."
Larry surged forward-
Marcus slammed his hand onto the light switch, plunging the room into darkness.
Ella screamed.
Larry spun.
Something crashed.
A struggle-
A shout-
The door swung open-
Footsteps-
Then-
A single, deafening sound.
A gunshot.
The lights flickered back on.
Larry stood frozen.
Ella gasped.
And Marcus-
Marcus was gone.
Vanished.
Leaving behind only the still-warm imprint of betrayal.
For a long moment, no one spoke.
The conference room lights flickered back to full brightness, humming faintly, almost mockingly, as if the universe itself were indifferent to the emotional earthquake tearing through Ella's chest.
Larry stood perfectly still, the metal ruler still clenched in his hand like a blade. His eyes remained fixed on the spot where Marcus had disappeared through the door. His breathing was slow. Controlled. Too controlled.
Ella swallowed hard, tasting copper on her tongue. She hadn't even realized she'd bitten the inside of her mouth.
"Larry," she whispered.
No response.
"Larry." She stepped closer and touched his arm.
He blinked, as if snapping out of a trance, and turned toward her.
"He didn't shoot," Larry said. "That wasn't his gun."
Ella nodded shakily. "Then whose-"
A voice barked down the hallway.
"Rivera! What the hell was that sound?"
It was Lieutenant Harris.
Ella's entire body tensed.
Larry grabbed her arm-not harshly, but urgently-and pulled her behind him.
"Stay quiet," he mouthed.
Harris's footsteps approached.
Ella's breath hitched. Larry's posture shifted, subtly transforming. Shoulders squared. Weight redistributed. Muscles tightening. This wasn't Larry anymore.
This was Wraith.
His eyes flicked to the doorknob.
It began to turn.
Ella pressed her hand to Larry's back, grounding him.
He exhaled softly-almost human again.
The door swung open.
Lieutenant Harris's eyebrows shot up when he saw both of them. "Rivera? What's going on? We heard-"
Larry stepped forward, body angled perfectly to block Ella from view.
"Lock malfunction," Larry said coolly. "Dropped a chair. Loudly."
Harris's gaze darted to Ella. "Is that true?"
Ella forced herself to breathe normally. "Yes, sir. I'm sorry-it slipped."
Harris's jaw tightened. He scanned the room-the files on the table, the tension thick in the air, the faint scent of adrenaline and fear.
"Right," Harris said slowly. "Well... be careful."
He glanced at Larry again-too long, too suspicious-and then quietly closed the door.
Larry waited three full seconds before moving. Once he was certain Harris was gone, he turned to Ella.
"We need to leave," he said. "Now."
Ella's voice cracked. "He knows."
"Yes," Larry said. "And he's not the only one."
Ella gathered the scattered files with trembling hands. Larry was already scanning the hallway through the blinds.
"Movement near the bullpen," he whispered. "Two officers. Vaughn and Cole."
"The other two suspects," Ella murmured.
Larry nodded. "They're looking for us."
Ella felt sick. How deep did this go? How long had Marcus been leaking information? And worse-how long had her own colleagues been studying her like a chess piece, mapping every step she took?
"What if Harris is involved too?" she whispered.
Larry didn't answer immediately.
When he finally did, his voice was tight.
"I think the orchestrator has at least three people on the inside. Possibly more."
Ella felt something inside her crack-not physically, but emotionally. Like the thin strand of belief holding her loyalty to the precinct had finally snapped.
Larry nudged her toward the side hallway. "We exit through Records. Less traffic. Cameras are out on that side."
Ella stiffened. "Cameras are out? For how long?"
"Since we walked in," Larry said grimly. "Which means someone was waiting."
Her pulse thudded painfully.
They moved quickly, quietly, down the hallway. Larry made her walk two steps behind him, staying between her and every doorway, every corner, every shadow.
She should've felt safer.
Instead, she felt exposed.
Every officer she passed suddenly looked like an enemy.
When they reached the stairwell, Larry slowed.
"Wait."
He placed his hand on the railing, closed his eyes, and listened.
Someone was breathing below.
Slow.
Steady.
Purposeful.
Larry opened his eyes. "We take the roof."
Ella blinked. "The roof? How are we supposed to-"
But Larry was already moving upward, practically silent despite his speed.
She followed him up three flights of stairs until they emerged onto the rooftop access door. Larry picked the lock with a paperclip taken from his pocket-she didn't even want to know how he'd developed that skill.
The rooftop was empty. Overcast sky stretched above them like a bruise. The wind slapped against Ella's face, cold and raw.
Larry scanned the edges. "There."
He pointed to the building adjacent to the precinct. The gap wasn't wide, but it wasn't small either. Ten feet of open air over a four-story drop.
Ella stared. "No. Larry. No way."
Larry turned to her.
"Ella. Look at me."
She hesitated, then met his eyes.
"We can't go down. They're waiting. They already think you're compromised."
"It's you they're after," she whispered.
"No," he said quietly. "It's us."
The word hit her like a fist to the chest.
Us.
He stepped closer.
"Ella, if they get their hands on you, they'll use you against me. You know that."
"I'm not a liability," she shot back, voice shaking.
"You're not." His voice softened. "You're the only leverage they know works."
Ella hated that he was right.
Larry walked to the ledge. "Take my hand. I'll pull you across."
She laughed-borderline hysterical. "You think I can make that jump?"
"You don't need to. I'll lift you."
"Lift me across a ten-foot rooftop gap?"
"Yes."
Ella stared at him. "That's insane."
Larry didn't blink. "Ella. Do you trust me?"
The wind roared around them.
Sirens wailed in the distance.
Her heart pounded.
Did she trust him?
Yes.
Terrifyingly, yes.
She took a shaky breath.
"Okay."
Larry lifted her into his arms-effortless, steady, unshakably secure. She felt his strength, the tension in his muscles, the controlled breathing of a man preparing for risk.
"Wrap your arms around my neck," he murmured.
She did.
And with a single, powerful leap, Larry launched them across the gap.
Ella's scream was swallowed by the wind.
His boots hit the gravel roof of the neighboring building hard, knees bending, absorbing the impact. He didn't stumble. Not even a little.
Ella clung to him long after they landed, trembling, breathless, terrified.
"You okay?" he whispered.
She nodded mutely.
Then Larry stiffened.
"We're not alone."
A figure emerged from behind the rooftop vent.
Detective Vaughn.
Gun raised.
Ella gasped. "Vaughn? What the hell-"
"Drop the files, Rivera," Vaughn barked. "Now."
Larry shifted his stance, placing Ella behind him.
Vaughn's eyes narrowed. "You picked the wrong side, Rivera."
Ella's voice cracked. "Vaughn, don't do this."
"You should've stayed ignorant," he growled. "Marcus tried to warn you."
"Marcus betrayed the entire department!"
Vaughn snorted. "Please. If you knew half of what was going on, you'd be thanking him. You're in over your head."
Larry's voice dropped to a low, lethal calm. "Put the gun down."
Vaughn aimed directly at Larry. "You're the reason she's involved. You should've stayed dead."
Ella's heart lurched.
Larry didn't move.
Vaughn stepped closer. "Orders are orders, Wraith."
Ella froze.
Vaughn knew.
Vaughn knew who Larry was.
"Put the files down," Vaughn snarled, "and maybe I'll keep Rivera alive. For now."
Larry took a step forward.
Vaughn cocked the gun.
"Ah-ah. Dead men don't get second chances."
Something in Larry's expression changed.
A chilling calm washed over him.
Ella recognized it.
Wraith.
He spoke with terrifying softness.
"You should've shot the moment you saw me."
"What?" Vaughn barked.
Larry moved in a blur.
Ella barely saw it-one second Vaughn was aiming, and the next the gun was ripped from his hand, skittering across the rooftop.
Vaughn lunged at Larry.
Larry sidestepped effortlessly, twisting Vaughn's arm until a sickening crack echoed.
Vaughn screamed.
Larry shoved him against the vent, arm twisted behind his back.
Ella picked up the dropped gun, hands shaking.
"Who are you working for?" Larry growled.
Vaughn gritted his teeth. "Go to hell."
Larry twisted harder. Vaughn shrieked.
"Larry!" Ella said sharply. "Stop-he's useless if he's unconscious."
Larry loosened the pressure-barely.
"Talk," he hissed.
Vaughn spat blood. "You won't stop them. You can't stop them. They own the city. They own the force. They owned you."
Larry's jaw clenched violently.
Vaughn grinned through the pain. "Oh yeah... I know what you were. I know what they turned you into."
Ella stepped closer. "Vaughn. Who is the orchestrator?"
Vaughn laughed-a broken, bitter sound. "You won't believe me."
"Try us," Larry snapped.
"You don't get it, Rivera," Vaughn hissed. "This whole place is a puppet show. And the man pulling the strings-he's always been right under your nose."
Ella felt her stomach twist.
"Who?!"
Vaughn leaned in, voice a whisper of triumph.
"You already trust him."
Ella froze.
Larry's grip tightened. "Say his name."
Vaughn opened his mouth-
Bang.
A single bullet struck Vaughn square in the forehead.
Ella screamed.
Larry dove over her instinctively, shielding her.
Vaughn's body slumped lifelessly to the rooftop.
Ella stared in horror.
"There's a sniper," Larry said, pulling her to cover. "We need to move."
"But Vaughn-" she gasped.
"He's dead. We won't be next."
Larry grabbed her wrist and raced toward the far side of the roof.
Ella's mind was chaos.
People she trusted were dying.
People she knew were betraying her.
And someone-someone right under her nose-was pulling every string.
They reached the fire escape.
Larry swung himself over the edge, then helped her down quickly, carefully, shielding her with his body the whole way.
When they reached the alley below, Ella's legs nearly buckled. Larry caught her.
"You're okay," he murmured, steadying her. "Ella. Stay with me."
She nodded, breath shaking.
"Larry..." she whispered. "This... this is bigger than anything we thought."
"Yes," he said. "And we're running out of time."
He guided her quickly toward the street, eyes constantly scanning.
But before they made it ten steps-
A black SUV screeched into the alley, blocking their way.
Four masked men jumped out.
Larry pushed Ella behind him.
They were trapped.
One of the masked men pointed a gun directly at Ella.
"Detective Rivera," the man said calmly. "You're coming with us."
Larry's voice darkened to something deadly. "Over my dead body."
The man shrugged. "That can be arranged."
Ella grabbed Larry's arm. "Larry-don't. We can't fight all of them."
"We don't need to fight all of them," Larry said quietly. "Just the first one."
He subtly shifted his weight.
Ella caught it. Wraith was about to take over fully.
"No," she whispered urgently. "Larry, listen. If they want me alive, they won't shoot. But they'll kill you. Don't do this."
Larry turned his head slightly.
And for the first time, she saw something raw flicker across his expression-fear.
Not fear for himself.
Fear for her.
"Ella..." he whispered.
Before he could finish, the masked man lifted a small device. A phone.
He pressed play.
A familiar voice spilled out.
Marcus.
"Bring her to me.
Don't hurt her.
I'll handle the rest."
Ella's heart clenched painfully.
"No," she whispered. "Marcus... why?"
Larry stepped forward, fury radiating off him.
"What do you want with her?" he demanded.
The masked men raised their rifles.
Ella grabbed Larry's hand tightly. "Don't. Please."
The leader spoke again. "Detective Rivera. You're coming with us. Now."
Ella swallowed hard. "And if I don't?"
He aimed directly between her eyes.
"Then we kill your Wraith."
Larry moved instantly.
"No-Larry!" she cried.
He pushed her behind a dumpster, shielding her completely as he prepared to take on all four men-
But he froze.
Something sharp stung his neck.
A tranquilizer dart.
"Larry!" Ella screamed, reaching for him.
He staggered, blinking hard, muscles fighting to stay functional.
"Ella," he rasped. "Run."
Another dart hit him.
He dropped to his knees.
Ella grabbed his face, sobbing. "No. No. Larry, stay with me. Stay with me."
He cupped her cheek with a trembling hand.
"I'm not leaving you," he whispered.
His eyes fluttered.
The masked men grabbed Ella, pulling her back.
She screamed, kicking, clawing. "Larry! Larry!"
Larry tried to stand-one last attempt. His body trembled violently, refusing to obey.
The leader leaned close to Ella's ear.
"Don't worry," he breathed. "He'll wake up soon enough."
Ella's blood went cold.
The world spun.
And the last thing she saw before a hood was thrown over her head was Larry collapsing onto the concrete-
Unconscious.
Defeated.
Unable to save her.
Darkness swallowed her.
She was shoved into a vehicle.
Hands tied.
Heart racing.
The SUV sped away.
Ella screamed Larry's name until her throat tore.
But he didn't answer.
He couldn't.
Because the last tranquilizer dart had been dosed specifically for him-strong enough to bring down a man twice his size.
As the SUV roared through the city, someone beside her lifted her hood just enough to whisper into her ear.
A voice she knew.
A voice she trusted.
A voice that shattered her.
"Ella," the voice murmured softly. "I told you I'd protect you."
Her blood froze.
The hood came off.
And she saw him sitting across from her.
Smiling calmly.
Marcus.
His eyes were warm.
His voice gentle.
His expression heartbreakingly sincere.
"I'm glad you're safe," Marcus whispered. "I've been waiting for you."
Ella's breath caught.
"Marcus," she whispered. "Where are you taking me?"
His smile widened.
"Home."
Ella shook her head violently. "You're insane."
Marcus reached forward, cupping her cheek the way Larry had moments earlier-but with something colder behind it.
"No," he said softly. "I'm the only one who's ever truly cared for you."
Ella recoiled.
Marcus exhaled, disappointed.
"You'll understand soon," he murmured. "You'll see the truth."
Ella glared at him, tears burning her eyes. "Marcus... what is this about? Why are you doing this?"
He leaned forward, eyes shining with something unhinged.
"Because," he whispered,
"you should never have trusted Larry."
Ella's stomach twisted.
Marcus smiled.
"After all... he wasn't just trained to kill people."
A long pause.
"He was trained to forget them."
Ella froze.
"What... what are you talking about?"
Marcus tilted his head, studying her.
"You really don't know, do you?"
Ella's pulse thundered.
Marcus leaned in, voice a whisper of poison.
"You brought a ghost into your home. A killer into your life. A man who was programmed to wipe out memories that get in the way of his assignments."
Ella felt her world collapse.
"No," she whispered. "No, that's a lie."
Marcus smiled sadly. "Is it? Think, Ella. Why do you think he only remembers you?"
Ella's breath hitched.
Marcus continued.
"Because you were his last target."
Her heart stopped.
Marcus whispered:
"Larry was ordered to kill you."
Ella's scream filled the SUV-
And everything went black.
