The words stunned everyone.
The bodyguards stared at Audrey’s rising chest. They released Dakota, hands shaking as they shoved the taser back into its holster. The hostility in their eyes vanished. Replaced by awe.
The doctor dropped to his knees beside the monitor. He stared at the strong, rhythmic green lines. He looked at the gold needle buried in Audrey’s chest. His jaw dropped.
“The Lazarus Protocol,” he whispered. His voice trembled. “I read about this in a classified medical journal. It’s real.”
The bodyguards exchanged shocked glances. Even they knew the rumors of the mythical acupuncture technique that could restart a dead heart.
Tiffany stood frozen. The blood drained from her face. She’d just insulted a master physician. And she’d lost the bet.
Tiffany took a slow step backward, turning her body toward the open door of the Maybach.
Dakota caught the movement. She kicked the toe of her boot against the asphalt, popping a small, jagged rock into the air. She kicked it forward.
The rock shot across the road and slammed into the back of Tiffany’s knee.
Tiffany screamed. Her leg buckled. She crashed face-first against the side of the Maybach.
Dakota walked slowly toward the car. She stopped behind Tiffany and held out her open palm.
Tiffany rubbed her bruised cheek and glared at Dakota. She opened her mouth to scream for the guards.
A weak, raspy voice came from the ground.
“Tiffany.”
Tiffany froze and slowly turned her head.
Audrey sat up, supported by the lead bodyguard. She was weak, but her eyes burned with absolute authority. She’d been paralyzed, but she’d heard every word spoken while she was trapped in her own body.
“Give the girl what you promised,” Audrey commanded. Her voice was quiet but carried the weight of the Wilder empire.
Tiffany trembled. She didn’t dare disobey. She reached up and fumbled with the clasp of the diamond necklace. She pulled the heavy jewels off and dropped them into Dakota’s waiting hand. The diamonds felt cold.
“The rest of it,” Dakota said, staring down at her.
Tiffany’s face burned bright red. She stepped away from the car and bent at the waist, bowing deeply toward the girl in the faded jacket.
“I’m sorry,” Tiffany forced the words through clenched teeth. Humiliation shook her shoulders.
Dakota let out a short breath. “Your apology is pathetic, but I accept it.”
Audrey pushed herself up with the bodyguard’s help. She walked slowly toward Dakota and shoved the doctor out of her way.
Audrey snapped her fingers. An assistant rushed forward with a leather checkbook and a pen. Audrey scribbled across the paper and tore it out.
She held the check out with both hands. It was written for one million dollars.
“Thank you for saving my life,” Audrey said. “Please, give me your contact information. The Wilder family owes you a great debt.”
Dakota took the check. She folded it once and shoved it into her pocket without looking at the zeros. She recited her personal, encrypted number. Only a very select few people had it.
Dakota walked back to Audrey. Her hands moved in a blur, pulling the silver and gold needles from the woman’s chest and head. She slid them back into the hairpin and clipped it into her hair.
“The poison is only suppressed,” Dakota said. “Get to a hospital and get your blood filtered immediately.”
She turned her back on the billionaires, picked up her canvas backpack from the hood of the ruined Ford, and started walking down the highway.
Audrey watched the girl walk away. She turned to her assistant.
“Find out everything about her,” she ordered.
