en's face that pale, the

e, it wa

s it?"

just stared at his ph

cie

the scre

y. A girl. Young. Gagged.

dly. Not theatrically.

she?"

ter," h

sank. "

't speak. Just repla

his arm. "

hree years ago. After my father..." He stopped. Jaw c

sen

ber. No

ned my stomach. Calm. Smirking. F

igging, Lucien. Time

his is about us. Ab

dded

. "Do you think

y one with enough reach to get to

all. "I can't do this if he's going to keep

w. "That's the reason

tween us. Not heavy. Not

o tell Rafa

t yet. If this goes w

we go

"You still want to

hesitat

're

took Enzo. He's not

looked away. "We

es. Boots. Gun. Flashlight. A ph

o the garage. Rafael was already there, leaning against a black

ain about thi

t that's never st

keep reminding me

d at him

e. Same refusal

t that from

"You got that i

arate car. All black. Eng

a word. Rafael in th

ak for the first

ameras won't pick us up, but the guards will rotate

are we looking

e Enzo believed was inside. He said everything ties

turning. "And what ex

ing. Not lega

flipped. "H

ple who didn't volunte

dow. "And my father

didn't

," I de

funded it. Protected

heel tighter. "We sh

ve ten. Lucien killed the lights an

tance. A sleek, modern buildin

d the first gate. Lucien scan

and sprinted to a side entrance. Rafael

was sterile. F

," Rafael

stairwell. Down two levels. The walls c

"This wasn't in

n't want it to b

ad, lit only by dim red l

rage. According to Enzo, this

code. The door

ng cabinets, server rack

canning the room. "Fan out. Look for

ned folders, and flipp

ked with a stamp. A black circl

," I

en came over. I

mes. Ages. Conditions

ught. "These

a second folder

drawer. "Here

"We need to downloa

ulled out a small device from

hour,"

es. Some crossed ou

en I s

n

eneath

at my gasp.

d him t

yes darkened. "Th

n hold" I

marked you,

me for

mina

ack. "He was goi

ad. "No. Not

"The date. Two

was his deadline. If you stayed lo

ean up t

e from the server. "We

he corridor. But as we reach

up a han

fro

teps

ic

der his breath.

back. "Ot

"Basement. Lab

xt hall. Lights flicked

dn't soun

rridor. Rafael opened a

the escape tu

rough first. He fol

through, w

expl

hook. Dust f

bed my arm.

ds behind the facility,

it to

back. "That wa

him. "They knew

n't re

im. "How did

I not

notic

was b

is side

ph

zz

d it, turned t

om a saved nu

firm

cked

hispered. "Wh