Chapter 15 - The gun pointed directly at Sloan.No one moved.
He looked twenty years old.
Six months older than her.
Exactly as Daniel had described.
Lucas stopped a few feet away.
“I know this is a lot.”
Sloan shook her head.
“You're dead.”
“I was supposed to be.”
“Dad said you died.”
Lucas looked at Daniel.
“Dad says a lot of things.”
Daniel raised his weapon.
“Lucas, step away from her.”
Lucas laughed.
“That sounds familiar.”
Mara stood behind him.
“Put the gun down, Daniel.”
“No.”
Lucas looked at Sloan.
“She doesn't know yet.”
“Know what?”
Lucas smiled.
“The most important part.”
Victor stepped closer.
“She's not going anywhere with you.”
Lucas looked at Victor.
“You're still pretending to protect her.”
Victor's face hardened.
“Who are you working for?”
Lucas laughed.
“Mara?”
“No.”
Lucas looked toward the ceiling.
“The Raven.”
Victor's eyes narrowed.
“That's not an answer.”
“It is.”
Sloan looked at Lucas.
“What do you want from me?”
Lucas's expression changed.
“Nothing.”
He looked genuinely sad.
“I wanted my sister.”
“You've known where I was?”
“For years.”
“Why didn't you find me?”
“Because Dad told me you were safer without me.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Lucas.”
“No.”
Lucas stepped toward him.
“You don't get to speak.”
Sloan stepped between them.
“Enough.”
Everyone went quiet.
She looked at Lucas.
“Tell me the truth.”
Lucas nodded.
“The project worked.”
“What project?”
“M-17.”
“You remember?”
“Everything.”
Sloan stared.
Lucas continued.
“I remember the lab.”
“The experiments.”
“The people who came.”
“The names.”
“The passwords.”
“The night our father tried to destroy the files.”
Sloan looked at Daniel.
“Why didn't you?”
Daniel answered quietly.
“I did.”
Lucas smiled.
“Not all of them.”
He reached into his jacket.
Pulled out a small drive.
He handed it to Sloan.
“Your memories are stored here.”
She stared at it.
“What?”
“You didn't lose them.”
“They were locked.”
“Exactly.”
“How do I unlock them?”
Lucas looked toward Victor.
“You don't.”
Victor stiffened.
Lucas continued:
“Because unlocking them could kill you.”
Sloan looked at him.
“You're lying.”
“No.”
Mara stepped forward.
“Lucas was the only one who survived full activation.”
Sloan's stomach turned.
“My brother survived.”
“Yes.”
Lucas touched the side of his head.
“But his brain paid the price.”
“What price?”
He smiled.
“I stopped sleeping.”
Sloan stared.
“I dream while I'm awake.”
A gunshot cracked.
The drive flew from Sloan's hand.
Everyone ducked.
Mara shouted.
“Move!”
Gunmen stormed the facility.
Victor fired.
Daniel fired.
Lucas pulled Sloan behind a concrete pillar.
Bullets tore through equipment.
Sparks filled the room.
Victor shouted.
“Elias!”
No answer.
Sloan looked toward the entrance.
A figure walked calmly through the smoke.
No gun.
No panic.
Just a black suit.
He carried a cane.
Mara froze.
“Mr. Vale.”
Sloan looked at her.
Mara's face was suddenly afraid.
“Who is that?”
Lucas whispered:
“The man who owns the Raven.”
The man removed his gloves.
He looked at Sloan.
Then smiled.
“I've waited eleven years to meet you.”
Sloan's heart pounded.
“Who are you?”
He stepped closer.
“Your grandfather.”
Daniel shouted:
“No!”
The man's smile disappeared.
“Daniel.”
He raised the cane.
A hidden blade slid from it.
“You were told never to bring her here.”
Daniel raised his gun.
“You're not taking her.”
The old man looked at him.
Then at Sloan.
“I'm not taking her.”
He pointed toward Victor.
“He is.”
Victor froze.
Sloan turned.
The room went silent.
The old man spoke again.
“Victor Rainer is not your protector.”
May you like
He smiled.
“He is the reason your family was destroyed.”
