Chapter 26

A convoy of black luxury sedans glided down the asphalt, led by a Monarch. The vehicle pulled to a smooth halt at the curb, its tinted windows reflecting the late afternoon sun. Noah Hayes stepped out, adjusting his cufflink as he spotted a familiar figure standing by the roadside. "Patrick," Noah said, walking toward him. "What brings you out here?" Patrick Thorne was leaning against the fender of a Veridian. He looked up, his expression a mix of annoyance and amusement. "I just picked...