Chapter 8 - Adrian didn't hesitate.He grabbed Leo and pulled him toward the exit.
I followed.
The corridor shook beneath our feet.
Metal doors opened automatically.
Somewhere above us, alarms screamed.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"Surface."
"What about Maya?"
He stopped.
I stared at him.
"She's alive."
"I know."
"We're leaving her?"
"If I stay, Leo dies."
His voice cracked on the final word.
That was enough.
We ran.
Halfway down the corridor, a door exploded inward.
Three armed men entered.
Adrian shoved Leo behind me.
"Stay down."
Gunfire erupted.
Adrian fired back.
One man dropped.
Another disappeared behind a steel column.
The third rushed forward.
I saw the muzzle turn toward Leo.
I didn't think.
Again.
I moved.
But Adrian was faster.
He stepped between them.
The bullet struck his side.
He staggered.
"Adrian!"
He fired once.
The attacker collapsed.
Adrian dropped to one knee.
Blood spread across his shirt.
Leo screamed.
"Papa!"
Adrian pressed a hand against the wound.
"I'm fine."
"You are not fine!"
He looked at me.
"Get him out."
"No."
"Nora."
"I said no."
He tried to stand.
His legs failed.
I caught his arm.
He was heavier than he looked.
"We're leaving together."
He stared at me.
"Why?"
The question surprised me.
"Because Leo needs you."
"And you?"
I didn't answer.
His eyes held mine for one second.
Then the corridor lights died.
A voice echoed.
"Mr. Voss."
Hale.
"You have something that belongs to me."
Adrian looked toward the speaker.
"Come take it."
Hale laughed.
"I already did."
The far doors opened.
Men dragged Maya into the corridor.
She was alive.
Bleeding.
And standing behind her was Gabriel Hale.
I had worked for him.
Eight months.
He had asked about my schedule.
My apartment.
My mother.
I'd thought it was harmless conversation.
Now I saw his true face.
Cold.
Patient.
Almost bored.
"Nora," he said.
I felt sick.
"You."
He smiled.
"I've been waiting for you."
Adrian lifted his weapon.
Hale pressed a gun to Maya's head.
"Don't."
Adrian stopped.
Hale looked at me.
"Do you know why you're alive?"
"No."
"Because your mother made a deal."
"What deal?"
"She gave me access to something."
"What?"
"A memory."
I frowned.
Hale smiled.
"Your mother knew people could be trained to carry secrets without knowing they carried them."
My heart pounded.
"No."
"She hid the final coordinates in your subconscious."
Adrian's face changed.
"You implanted it?"
Hale nodded.
"Years ago."
I backed away.
"No."
"Your mother brought you to our facility when you were twenty-one."
My mind flashed.
A hospital room.
A bright light.
A headache that lasted for days.
My mother crying.
I had thought it was a normal medical procedure after an accident.
It wasn't.
Hale looked pleased.
"You're the final vault."
Adrian stepped closer.
"Let Maya go."
"Not yet."
Hale turned toward Leo.
"And the boy is the key to opening it."
Leo clung to Adrian.
I stepped forward.
"Then take me."
Everyone looked at me.
Hale smiled.
"Exactly."
Adrian grabbed my wrist.
"No."
I looked at him.
"If they want me, they won't shoot."
"Nora."
"Give me five minutes."
His eyes hardened.
"You don't know what you're saying."
"I know."
I stepped toward Hale.
"But I know what I won't let happen."
Hale raised his weapon.
And then Maya whispered something only I heard.
"Look at Hale's left hand."
I did.
A wedding ring.
Engraved inside.
Three words.
I knew them.
Because they were written on the photograph in my mother's secret room.
Project Echo Coordinator.
I stared.
Hale noticed.
Too late.
I smiled.
"You made one mistake."
His eyes narrowed.
"What?"
"My mother taught me how to disappear."
Then I grabbed the emergency fire extinguisher from the wall.
May you like
And smashed the lights.
:::
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