I moved instantly. I dressed in a sharp, structured blazer and dark trousers—clothes that felt less like fashion and more like armor. I retrieved the USB from the sock and slipped it into a hidden zippered pocket of my leather tote, feeling the weight of it settle against my hip.
Before leaving the house, I made a detour to the pantry. My heart hammered against my ribs as I pulled the burner phone from its hiding place behind the cracker tin. The screen was dark. Nothing from Liam. I typed a quick, jagged message: Got it. I watched the "Sent" icon flicker and disappear, then I deleted the thread entirely. My breath hitched as I shoved the burner into my purse alongside the drive. It was time to move.
Shopping was the perfect cover; it was the one thing Jason expected me to do. I hit the
