Flora’s Guide to a Second Chance at Love and Life

The place was buzzing-everywhere you looked, people were working on something different.

Fiona and Jackson had already seen most of what the design facility had to offer. They weren't in any hurry to leave, just taking it all in.

Curious, Fiona struck up a casual conversation about the cyborgs. It turned out they were pretty good at spotting which ones were unfinished or defective.

From a few offhand remarks, they picked up some useful intel about where Country M kept its research institute. Most of these flawed cyborgs were basically mindless, barely able to mumble a few sounds, let alone form real words.

But for Fiona, figuring out those syllables was no big deal. She cracked the pattern in no time.

She gave Jackson a quick look, and he met her gaze. They didn't need to say a word-both knew they'd learned what they came for. No reason to stick around any longer.

"Ms. Fiona, I was wondering if you and Mr. Woods are free tonight?" their guide asked. "If you have time, I'd love to take you out to dinner. We can talk more about the contract."

smirk tugging at her

to pick you up. That's what good hosts do, right?" he replied,

you really get our customs.

just try to follow your

tonight then," she said, her tone

parted ways, Fiona and Jackson didn't go straight back to the hotel. Instead, they wandered through a

to tire out the person taiting them. When their

spot, picked up their concealed weapons, and checked that the bullets were loaded, tucking everything away-one at the waist, one

in Country M, after all. There were limits to what they could risk. Once things kicked off, someone would be ready

they stepped outside, they ducked into another high-end boutique Sure enough a new tatho appeared almost immediately. This time, they didn't bother to hide, buying plenty before heading back to

someone was