Page 11 of A Ballad of Blackbirds and Betrayal

“And her mother’s courage,” he added.

They stood side by side before the photograph, the personal loss that had driven Atticus’s eight-year quest for justice now tangible between them.Sabrina felt the last of her professional detachment slipping, replaced by something more complicated—understanding, compassion, and the recognition of shared purpose despite their different paths.

“I’ll help you,” she said finally, turning to face him directly.“Not just with the medical aspects, but with whatever plan you’re developing to stop Mitchell and BioGenix.”

Atticus studied her face, searching for hesitation or doubt and finding only resolve.“It will be dangerous.”

“I know.”

“You could lose everything.”

“If Mitchell deploys this weapon, a lot of people will lose everything,” she countered.“Including their lives.I took an oath, Mr.Cameron.”

“Atticus,” he corrected, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

“Atticus,” she acknowledged with a nod.“I took an oath to do no harm.Sometimes that means preventing harm before it happens.”

Something shifted in his expression then—a new assessment, a recognition of shared values despite their different worlds.The professional distance between them had narrowed over the hours they’d worked together, her scientific approach complementing his strategic thinking in ways neither had anticipated.

“Welcome to Dynamis, Dr.Wells,” he said, extending his hand.

“Sabrina,” she corrected, accepting his handshake.

Their hands remained joined a moment longer than necessary, the contact conveying something neither was prepared to acknowledge—the beginnings of a partnership that would test both their professional boundaries and their personal convictions.

Outside the windows, darkness had fallen completely over Dallas, the city’s lights glittering against the night sky like stars fallen to earth.Within the office, something new had taken shape—an alliance forged in shared purpose, mutual respect, and the understanding that some enemies could only be defeated by working together.

Neither of them could have predicted how deeply that alliance would ultimately transform them both.

ChapterFour

A week after the hospital gala, the surveillance van looked innocuous from the outside—a nondescript white utility vehicle withDallas Metro Electricemblazoned on the side in faded blue letters.Inside, however, it resembled NASA mission control, packed with cutting-edge surveillance technology that made it feel half the size it actually was.The scent of coffee from three travel mugs mingled with the metallic tang of gun oil and the faint chemical smell of the specialized equipment.

Atticus checked his watch—an old Rolex that had survived three war zones and countless covert operations.Three more minutes until the team needed to move into position.He looked across the cramped space at the unexpected addition to tonight’s operation and felt a flicker of unease.

Sabrina Wells shouldn’t be here.

Her presence was an unnecessary complication, a potential liability, and a distraction he couldn’t afford.She sat beside Cal on the monitoring station bench, her dark hair pulled back in a severe knot, dressed in tactical black that did nothing to diminish her striking features.She was studying the 3-D rendering of Senator Mitchell’s estate with the same focused intensity she’d likely give a patient’s chart.

It had been only five days since their initial meeting at Dynamis headquarters, five days of intensive crash-course training in basic tactical movement, communications protocols, and weapons handling.Sabrina had proven herself an exceptionally quick study—not surprising for a trauma surgeon accustomed to processing and acting on critical information under pressure.

“The main gathering will be in the east wing,” Cal said, highlighting a section of the display with a gesture that manipulated the holographic projection.“Conservatory and adjoining study.According to our intel, Mitchell keeps the most sensitive materials in a hidden safe behind the bookcase in his personal study on the second floor.”

“Classic,” Nate remarked with a wry smile as he checked his weapons.“Bad guys and bookcases.Some clichés exist for a reason.”

“Speaking of clichés,” Eden said, turning to Sabrina, “how’s your family emergency holding up at the hospital?Anyone suspicious yet?”

Sabrina shook her head.“The chief of surgery is covering for me.I told Richard my mother had a stroke in Phoenix and needed emergency care.He arranged for my surgical rotation to be covered—personal favor since I haven’t taken more than three consecutive days off in five years.”

“Convenient,” Cal noted.“Though a bit morbid to fake a stroke.”

“My mother actually did have a mild stroke last year,” Sabrina replied.“She recovered fully, but it made the story plausible to anyone who knows me.“

Eden, already outfitted for her role, put the finishing touches on her disguise.Unlike the rudimentary makeup techniques that might fool the human eye, she wore a complex set of silicone prosthetics that completely altered her facial structure—cheekbones, jawline, even the shape of her nose had been subtly but distinctly changed.The Hollywood-grade alterations would bypass even the most sophisticated facial recognition systems, transforming her from the striking Israeli beauty into a plain, forgettable catering staff supervisor.

“Nice face,” Max commented dryly from his monitoring station.“Bet that gets you all the second dates.”

“Please,” Eden scoffed, adjusting the stiff uniform collar that completed her disguise.“This is still a solid seven in most of the Midwest.Remind me again why we’re not just grabbing Mitchell and applying some enhanced interrogation techniques?I could have him singing like Pavarotti in twenty minutes.”

---