Chapter 1 - The Invisible Poison
The tiny electronic device rested on Jared Kensington’s palm, a sleek, cold piece of malice. It wasn't just a tracker; it was a high-frequency transmitter designed to emit a subsonic pulse—something humans couldn't hear, but which drove a dog to the brink of insanity.
"This is military-grade," Jared said, his voice dropping to a dangerous, icy register. He looked at Miles, then back at me. "Someone in my inner circle has been trying to break him from the inside out."
Atlas, the great silver beast, let out a long, shuddering breath and rested his heavy head on my lap. He was still frail, his ribs clearly defined beneath his velvet skin, but the glaze of despair in his eyes had cleared. He was alert, watchful.
"I need to know who had access to this collar," I said, my voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through my veins.
Jared looked at me, really looked at me, as if seeing past the cleaning uniform and the worn sneakers. "You have a knack for finding what's hidden, Willa Thornton. Why are you mopping floors in a clinic?"
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"Because floors don't lie," I replied, standing up as Atlas rose with me. "People do."
Jared let out a sharp, cynical laugh. "You’re staying. Miles, get the guest wing ready. And I want the security logs for the last thirty days. Every single second."
