Raven stood in the narrow observation hallway outside the glass-walled strategy room, left shoulder still tight from the graze last night's recon had left her. Clean shot, wrong angle, barely caught skin. The bandage pulled every time she breathed deep.
Sebastian Vale waited inside, back to the door, tablet flat on the long black table like a trap already set. Serpent. The one who smiled while he measured exactly how much rope you needed before you hanged yourself.
He didn't turn when she stepped in. Just tapped the screen once, slow.
"Vincent wants your take on this." Voice low, almost bored. "Caruso-pattern negotiation. Small crew pushing the eastern docks. Demands came in this morning. Figured the Blade who used to run their routes might see the teeth behind the smile."
