He pinched a tiny black cylinder no larger than a shirt button and pulled it free.

The screen on my phone instantly went black, replaced by a message reading “Connection Lost.”

Damiano rolled down his window an inch, letting the cold wet air cut through the heat of the cabin.

He flicked the small camera out into the dark night.

“An old bug,” Damiano said, his voice level and calm. “Installed before we took possession of this vehicle.”

“Who was watching us?” I asked, my hands gripping the edge of the seat.

“A remnant of Marcus’s security team,” he replied. “A dying gasp from a system that no longer exists.”

He reached over and took my phone from my lap, pressing the power button to shut it down completely.

“They wanted you to panic,” he said. “They wanted you to think he still has power.”

“Does he?” I asked, looking out at the dark trees lining the highway.

“No,” Damiano said. “His network is being dismantled as we speak.”

The SUV cruised smoothly down the wet asphalt, the tires making a soft, rhythmic humming sound.