CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY EIGHT – HER DAY OF RECKONING

"Is it really over?" Kayla studied Valeria's crumpled, defeated form warily. "Just like that?" Lance exhaled a measured breath, his expression one of grim satisfaction. "About as over as it gets when the full force of international law comes crashing down." A cadre of uniforms swarmed forward then, brushing past them to secure Valeria in restraints and haul her away. She offered no resistance, staring straight ahead with a look of stunned disbelief, as if the reality of her situation was only just now becoming unavoidable. Kayla suppressed a full-body shudder watching her nemesis get frogmarched into custody. She still found it hard to believe - this Moment of reckoning they'd been hurtling towards through so much chaos and turmoil. "Don't get too comfortable with the silence," Lance murmured, seemingly reading her mind. "I guarantee you this isn't the last we've heard from our 'dear' Ms. Vega." This proved to be a gross understatement. In the aftermath, Valeria remained defiant a