Chapter 18

• The burner phone sat on the table like a bomb that had already gone off. Thirty minutes. The Council had given them thirty minutes to hand over Leo and the files or they would level the entire block. Maria was still tied to the chair laughing softly like this was the best joke she had heard in years.
• Leo stared at the phone. His heart was beating so hard he could feel it in his teeth. He looked around the room. Kai stood right beside him shoulder to shoulder. Luca had stopped cleaning his gun and was staring at Maria like he wanted to put a bullet in her right now. Elena leaned against the wall arms crossed watching everyone. Kai and Luca’s mother sat in the corner still pale from everything she had been through.
• “We are not giving them anything,” Leo said. His voice came out steady even though his hands were not.