Page 190 of Black Reign

No sudden movements.

I pass a bakery.

Turn right.

Cross against the light.

Enter a shop with two entrances and leave through the second.

Nobody follows.

I almost smile.

Then a black car rolls past.

Slowly.

I see the passenger.

Not the first man.

Not the second.

Third.

My stomach goes cold.

This isn't Blackwell.

Xavier would never use three visible operators inside six blocks.

Unless he wanted me to know.

He wouldn't.

Ghost would tease.

Xavier would wait.

Whoever this is doesn't know me well enough for either.

I change direction.

The car continues.

Good.

I take another turn.

And somebody hits me from behind.

I wake tasting blood.

Not much.

A split lip, maybe.

My head throbs.