Page 31 of A Ballad of Blackbirds and Betrayal

“Yes.Or at least delay its progression long enough for conventional treatments to work.”She glanced up at him, surprised by his quick grasp of the concept.“You understand chemical biology?”

“Enough to follow,” he said.“I make it a point to understand the threats I’m facing.”

The casual statement reminded her once again of the complexity of the man standing behind her—not just a security expert or former military operative, but someone whose intellect matched his physical capabilities.

“We’re fighting against time,” she said, returning to the model.“Nate and Eden should be at BioGenix by now.Once I have actual samples?—”

A security alert flashed across the screen, interrupting her explanation.Cal’s voice came through the intercom immediately.

“Atticus, we’ve got movement at Sabrina’s condo again.Different team this time.They’re installing something.”

Atticus straightened, all traces of their momentary connection gone.“Show me.”

The molecular model disappeared, replaced by security footage of two men methodically placing small devices throughout Sabrina’s home.

“Explosives,” Atticus identified immediately, his voice hardening.“They’re wiring the place to blow.”

Sabrina stared at the screen, a cold knot forming in her stomach as she watched strangers plant bombs in the space that had been her sanctuary.The clinical part of her mind cataloged the placement—gas lines, load-bearing walls, electrical panels—designed for maximum destruction.

“Mitchell’s escalating,” Atticus said, already moving toward the door.“He’s eliminating all traces connecting you to Cho.”

“Including me,” Sabrina said quietly.

He stopped, turning back to face her, something fierce and protective flashing in his eyes.“That’s not going to happen.”

Before she could respond, Cal’s voice returned, tension evident in his tone.“Atticus, we have another problem.There’s been a breach at the Georgetown campus security system.Someone’s trying to access Anna’s dormitory security protocols.”

The change that came over Atticus was instantaneous and chilling.Every line of his body went rigid, his expression hardening into something Sabrina barely recognized—cold, lethal focus that reminded her exactly what kind of man commanded Dynamis Security.

“Lock it down,” he ordered, already striding toward the door.“I want a full security team on Anna now.And find me who’s trying to get to her.Cal, I’ll be in command in two minutes.”

He paused at the threshold, turning back to Sabrina with an expression that combined determination and apology.“I have to?—”

“Go,” she said immediately, understanding perfectly.“Your daughter needs you.”

“Thank you,” he said, before he disappeared through the door, leaving Sabrina alone with the image of her home being rigged to explode.

She stared at the screen for a long moment, watching as the men finished their grim work and departed.The implications were clear: If she’d gone home after the café instead of coming to Dynamis, she would already be dead.

With renewed determination, she dismissed the security footage and returned to the molecular model.Mitchell was willing to kill innocent people to demonstrate his bioweapon’s effectiveness.He’d murdered Cho in broad daylight and tried to eliminate Sabrina.Now he was threatening Atticus’s daughter.

This had escalated beyond professional duty into something deeply personal.

Sabrina’s fingers flew across the keyboard as she refined her theoretical countermeasure.She would stop this weapon, not just for the forty-seven people at risk or for Atticus’s daughter, but because men like Mitchell needed to learn they couldn’t play God without consequences.

When Eden appeared at the door hours later, face flushed with success and a sealed container in her hands, Sabrina was ready.

“We got it,” Eden announced, setting the container carefully on the workbench.Her tactical gear was smudged with what looked like soot, and a thin scratch ran along her cheekbone, but her eyes were alert with triumphant determination.“Sample from the BioGenix primary storage facility.Please tell me you know what to do with it.”

Sabrina opened the container, a grim smile touching her lips as she removed the vial of clear liquid.

“Oh, I know exactly what to do with it,” she said, meeting Eden’s gaze with determination burning in her eyes.“I’m going to make it Mitchell’s worst nightmare.”

ChapterTen

The clock on her tablet showed 3:42 a.m.In less than ten hours, she would need to complete the countermeasure before Mitchell could deploy the bioweapon.

Sabrina rubbed her eyes, exhaustion tugging at her limbs even as her mind raced.Since their kiss in Atticus’s office days ago, she’d thrown herself into work, using the countermeasure development as a shield against thoughts that threatened her focus.But in quiet moments like this, alone in her temporary quarters, the memory returned with visceral clarity—the taste of him, the solid strength of his body against hers, the hungry look in his eyes before he’d pulled away.

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