Chapter 14 · Smile, Baby

Kade's fingers wouldn't stop shaking.

He stood in front of the cracked mirror in Juno's back room, tugging at the collar of a charcoal suit that fit too well. The fabric was expensive. Soft. It didn't feel like his.

Mara leaned against the doorframe behind him, arms crossed. "You look like one of them."

"That's the point." His voice came out flat.

She didn't answer. He could see her reflection watching him, her jaw tight. The bruise on her cheek from two days ago had faded to yellow, but her eyes still carried that edge. Like she was deciding whether to bolt or fight.

Juno pushed past her into the room, dropped a slim black case on the table. "IDs are clean. Invites are solid. You're a neurosurgeon consultant from the Shanghai enclave, she's your plus-one. Don't improvise."

Kade picked up the ID card. The name meant nothing. The face was his, but the smile in the photo wasn't.

"Silas will be there," Mara said.

He knew. He'd known since Juno pulled the gala schedule off the Oryx server. Silas Grave, listed as head of security oversight for the unveiling. Of course he'd be there.