2025-11-06 03:50:53The moment the red dot kissed Tatiana's sternum, her spine went into lockstep. The rusty, cordite-tasting air in the warehouse thickened. Mira whimpered as she felt Alexander's arms tighten around her.
He yelled, "Down!" and shoved Tatiana to the side.
Behind a pallet stack, they struck the concrete. As the first round punched through corrugated iron, wood splintered over their heads. Another came next, gnawing on the crate next to Mira's foot.
Alexander's earpiece exploded with Grayson's voice. Two hundred yards to the north, sniper on the crane. The wind still has five knots. I have eyes.
Alexander yanked Tatiana flush against his chest and commanded, "Take the shot." Her heart pounded on his ribs.
"Unfavorable. The splash zone has too many civilians. I need you to start a fire.
The fingers of Tatiana sunk inside Alexander's coat. "People?"
He responded sadly, "Mira." "And you."
Another round bounced off a steel beam and whined by. It showered sparks. Alexander's neck was where Mira buried her face.
Glock raised, and Tatiana crawled to the edge of cover. "I count one flash of the muzzle. crane cab.
Alexander's gaze grew strained. "Smoke on the riverbank, Grayson. Give us 30 seconds.
"Replicate. Quit smoking.
Hissing gray, a canister rattled through a shattered skylight. Choking fog covered the warehouse. Alexander took Tatiana's wrist and snatched Mira. "Dock loading." Proceed.
They ran. Concrete was battered by boots. Dust was kicked up as bullets stitched the floor behind them. Tatiana fired three rapid blasts into the fog, blindly. From the crane came a grunt.
They stormed onto the pier through a side door. The smell of dead fish and oil filled the Anacostia. Engine idling, a rusting fishing vessel bobbed against the pilings. From the helm, Cole waved.
"Get on board!" Alexander let out a shout.
Tatiana leaped the opening and landed forcefully. Cole caught Mira like a football after Alexander threw her across. Alexander flailed his coat and followed. The water where they had stood was struck by the sniper's subsequent bullet.
Cole pushed the accelerator. The bow rose as the trawler lurched. Tatiana whipped her hair and braced herself against the rail. Mira gripped her leg tightly.
Alexander looked around the crane. Hunting, the red dot scoured the dock. “Light him up, Grayson.”
"Drones are moving." Ten seconds.
Tatiana buzzed her burner. Unknown figure. "Speaker on," she said.
The voice of Benjamin Whitaker was as seductive as poison. "Good evening, my love. Having fun at the reunion?
The phone was grabbed by Alexander. "Where are you, bitch of a son?"
"Nearer than you may imagine." A laugh. "Alex, turn over the girl. The secret to everything is her.
Tatiana had fire in her eyes. "Over my corpse."
"That can be set up."
The call went dead.
Armed with hellfire, the drone sped across the sky. Metal twisted as orange fire burst from the crane cab. The sniper's body fell and splashed into the river.
Cole steered into the center lane of the river and banked hard. The water was splattered with D.C. lights. Alexander shielded Mira between them and drew Tatiana closer.
With a trembling voice, Tatiana begged, "Explain." "Everything."
Alexander let out a breath. I submitted patent applications for quantum encryption seven years ago. billions of dollars. Benjamin claimed the technology was Whitaker Dynamics, faked my signature, and buried me in Blackridge. I am listed as the primary shareholder on Mira's birth certificate. If I die, she will inherit. To activate the provision, they declared me dead tonight.
Tatiana's cheeks turned pale. "They want her dead."
"Or under control." He combed Mira's hair. "She's leverage in any case."
Cole turned out the lights. "We're not alone. Two speedboats are rapidly approaching.
Tatiana looked off into the night. Searchlights sweep across the river as twin wakes slash it.
Alexander reached into his pocket and took out the silk mask. "Take Mira below, Tat. Secure the hatch.
She paused. "I won't abandon you."
"You're not. You are preserving her life. He gave her a passionate kiss and tasted gunpowder and terror. "Go."
After grabbing Mira, Tatiana vanished down the companionway. Cole and Alexander ascended to the flybridge.
"Armory?"
Cole's chin jerked in the direction of a locker. Alexander opened it (flashgun, grenades, AR-15). A magazine was slapped home by him.
Alongside, the first speedboat roared, chattering machine guns. The trawler's hull was patched by bullets. The boat trembled as Cole swerved. Alexander returned fire, muzzle flash strobing. The shooter fell.
In an attempt to flank, the second boat circled. A grenade was thrown by Alexander. It landed in the cockpit after arcing. explosion. Shredded fiberglass. Sinking, the boat listed.
The only sound to break the silence was the roar of the engine. Alexander descended to the cabin. Mira slept on Tatiana's chest as she sat on the bunk.
He got down on his knees. "We are clear."
She put her hand on his scar. "This concludes tonight?"
"Starts tonight."
She reached for his neck and yanked him down. They kissed more slowly now, purposefully. She tasted of river water and salt. His palm cradled her jaw, thumb tracing the pulse at her throat.
Over the intercom, Cole's voice cracked. In five minutes, we will dock at Navy Yard. Grayson has a safe haven.
Tatiana pressed Alexander's forehead to her own. “What’s the plan?”
"We strike Benjamin in the tender spot. His Senate gala. Tomorrow evening.
Her eyes became stony. "I'm on board."
For the first time in years, Alexander grinned. I anticipated you would be.
A concealed pier was approached by the trawler. With his tablet glowing, Grayson waited on the dock. "Greetings from the war room."
With Mira in her arms, Tatiana left. With his mask hidden, Alexander trailed behind.
Tatiana received a new burner from Grayson. "Isabella ping-ed me." At dawn, Benjamin is relocating Mira's trust fund. We own him, thus we halt the transfer.
Tatiana’s grip tightened. "How?"
Alexander had a steely voice. "We show up at the party."
Flames licked the sky as the warehouse behind them continued to burn.
Headlights off, a black SUV sat at the end of the pier. The driver rolled down the window. Lucy Martin grinned as she leaned out. "Require a ride?"
The Glock was reared by Tatiana. "You let us down."
Lucy gave a shrug. Benjamin makes the payment. But I'm aware of his sleeping quarters. Are you interested?
Tatiana and Alexander looked at each other. She brought the gun down. “Get in.”
Lucy moved to the side. Alexander got behind the wheel. With its tires smoking, the SUV pulled out.
Mira was buckled in the back by Tatiana. "Next stop?"
"Georgetown," said Alexander. "We prepare. After that, we destroy Whitaker's empire with fire.
The lights of the metropolis flickered by. On the gearshift, Tatiana's hand touched his. Their knuckles were white, their fingers interlaced.
In the earpiece, Grayson said: "Heat signatures were just picked up by the satellite. At Dulles, Benjamin's private jet is refueling. He's sprinting.
Alexander blew it away. "Not far enough."
With taillights that winked like dying stars, the SUV disappeared into the night.
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Chapter 13: Radiation Confession
The air was heavy with the sterile smell of antiseptic. The heart monitor's steady beeping reverberated across the otherwise quiet room as Grayson lay in the hospital bed. Every breath seemed to be an extraordinary effort, and his body felt heavier than usual. He could feel it, the poison was working its way through his veins, his every cell screaming in pain. His mind was as sharp as ever, but his body was shutting down. Tatiana was standing next to him, staring at him with a mix of worry and something more intense flitting in her eyes. She had supported him through more difficult times, watched him fight in conflicts, and stood by him through innumerable crises, but now there was a strange weight between them. Both of them were aware that time was running out. A new wave of sickness struck Grayson, causing his face to twist in agony and his fingers to twitch feebly. He tried to sit up, but his body revolted, and he sank back into the pillows with a groan. "Stop, Grayson
Chapter 12: Ledger Ghosts
Isabella Montgomery's fingers sped over the keyboard like lightening. Each instruction and keystroke was a deliberate blow, a direct assault on Benjamin Whitaker's kingdom. She wasn't merely breaking into the system; she was destroying the basis of his fortune. "Done," she whispered to herself as the final upload concluded. Her screen came to life, verifying that all of the major outlets were now using the altered financial information. The world was about to discover Benjamin's dark secret—his money-laundering schemes masquerading as charitable organizations for kids. Breathing deeply, she slumped back in her chair as the moment's truth set in. It was finished. The evidence was visible. The world would be aware of Benjamin's actions. A crystal decanter broke against the wall in Benjamin Whitaker's luxury suite across town. The piercing boom reverberated throughout the opulent room as glass fragments were strewn all over the floor. With his fist gripped so tightly that it
Chapter 11: Hospital Shadows
The gentle hum of equipment blended with the sterile fragrance of the intensive care unit. Grayson's body was in ruins, his chest rising and falling with ragged breaths, and the cardiac monitor's constant beeping abruptly stopped. A nurse's hands were shaking as she rushed for the defibrillator, and the seconds flew by. He froze. The air seemed to hold its breath, and his chest froze. After a few stressful moments, his heart was brought back to life by a powerful electrical surge that surged through his body. Fighting the pressure in his head, his eyelids flickered open, albeit unfocused. His senses were dull, his limbs were weak, and the room appeared to be a blur. The voice said, "Come on, Grayson, stay with us," above the mist. It belonged to Victoria Langford; it was sleek and dominant. Always in charge. With his teeth clinched, Grayson said, "Don't think... you can get rid of me yet," She whispered, "Get a grip," as she smoothed his wet hair back. Even when a man she
Chapter 10: Knife in the Dark
Like a tomb, the warehouse doors yawned open. Alexander coasted on momentum until gravel crunched beneath the tires after killing the Suburban's engine two blocks out. With his mask tight and his scar aching, he ventured out into the darkness. With Mira's weight pressing heavily against her chest in the sling, Tatiana trailed behind, Glock lifted. Lucy's zip-ties were rattling with each stumble, and Cole and Victoria were at her sides. Despite the pain, Grayson brought up the rear with his AR-15 solid and his side bandaged tightly.Alexander had a buzzing burner. Bring the patents, Harrison. She may also bleed.He smashed the phone and threw away the pieces. "No bargain."When Tatiana noticed the ink leaking through his shirt, her gaze shifted. "You're on fire.""Later." He gestured ahead.Boots silent on crumbling concrete, they crept through a side door. Broken skylights striped the floor with moonlight. The smell of rat droppings and grease filled the air.On his wrist tablet, Gray
Chapter 9: Nanny’s Lie
Headlights carved golden tunnels through dripping darkness as the Suburban was completely engulfed by the subway tube. Overhead, corroded pipes plinked with water. Alexander killed the engine next to a platform covered with graffiti. The air tasted of old pennies and mold.The girl's head lolled on Tatiana's shoulder as she carried her down the stairs. Cole soaked the former Ranger's side with blood as he supported Grayson. The woman staggered, her face swelling, as Victoria pulled her by the zip-ties.A maintenance door was kicked open by Alexander. Inside are monitors flickering with city feeds, folding tables, and buzzing generators. He strapped Lucy's ankles and threw her onto a metal chair."Speak," he said in a flat voice.Lucy's lip broke, gushing blood. Benjamin first appeared at the shelter three years ago. claimed that if I monitored Tatiana, he would locate Jacob. fed him every bedtime tale and every word from his "daddy."Mira's blanket caused Tatiana's knuckles to turn wh
Chapter 8: Safehouse Siege
The safehouse door blew inward, sending shrapnel-like splinters flying. Barking from his AR-15, Grayson charged through the smoke. Flashes of muzzles swept through the dark living room. Before they cleared leather, two of Harrison's guards fell; one was shot three times in the chest, while the other was shot in the eye."Leave clear!" Grayson let out a yell.Alexander, Glock spraying fire, leaped the couch. With his knife out, a third guard sprang from the corridor. Alexander swerved and pushed the man's throat with his elbow. The cartilage crunched. The guard fell and gurgled.Mira gripped tightly as Tatiana ran past. "Basement!"Victoria kept her weapon steady and covered the back. "The stairs are really hot!"The drywall over her head was eaten by an automatic fire. She rolled and fired back two accurate rounds. With a lurch, the gunman on the landing fell down the stairs.The basement door was kicked open by Grayson. The air was stale, with bleach, mildew, and fear. Lucy Martin wa
