The Disgraced Heir's Revenge

Maya Santos

POV: Ethan Cole

I sat in the safe house staring at the computer screen for hours. Maya Santos had been investigating Morrison Pharmaceuticals for eight months.

'Morrison. Emma's uncle. The bastard who introduced us in the first place.'

The files the system pulled up made me sick. Falsified drug trials, patients dying from medications Morrison knew were dangerous. All buried under fake paperwork and shell companies.

'And Maya found all of it. No wonder they want her dead.'

But the real connection was Senator Richard Cross, Daniel's father. The Senator had used his political power to kill federal investigations into Morrison. He'd threatened prosecutors, intimidated witnesses. And according to the system, he'd personally shut down questions about my accident and the Cole Industries takeover.

'So Daniel didn't just steal my company. He had his father covering for him the whole time.'

My hands clenched into fists.

[MISSION TWO - STAGE TWO: RECRUIT MAYA SANTOS] [WARNING: TARGET IN IMMEDIATE DANGER] [MORRISON ENFORCERS MOVING TO ELIMINATE LEAK] [TIME LIMIT: 48 HOURS]

[REWARDS:] [- $100,000] [- SKILL UNLOCK: INTERMEDIATE HACKING] [- EVIDENCE FILE: SENATOR CROSS ACCIDENT COVER-UP]

'Forty-eight hours. That's all I have to find her and save her before Morrison's people kill her.'

Maya was perfect as a first ally. She had evidence I needed, she wanted revenge on the same people who destroyed me, and her skills would help fill the gaps in mine. But first I had to keep her alive.

I studied her schedule on the computer. The system had mapped out everything, her daily routine, her subway route, the converted loft she lived in because she couldn't afford better on a paralegal's salary. She'd been acting paranoid lately, checking over her shoulder, changing her route home. Crossing streets randomly.

'Smart. She knows someone's hunting her. But she doesn't have the resources to actually hide.'

The surveillance footage showed her most common path home from work. Fourteen minutes walking from the subway station. There was an alley she used as a shortcut three times a week.

And there was a dark sedan that had been parked near that alley for the past three nights.

'Morrison's assassins waiting for the right moment to grab her.'

'Tonight's the night they'll make their move. I can feel it.'

***

I positioned myself near the alley entrance at 6:45 PM. I wore jeans and a plain jacket, nothing that would make people notice me. The system had taught me how to blend into crowds, and how to watch without being obvious. The sedan was already there. Two men sitting inside, both scanning the street like professionals.

'There they are. Just waiting for her.'

Maya appeared at 6:53, right on schedule.

Long black hair pulled back in a ponytail. Her blazer was frayed at the edges, and there was a stain on her blouse she'd tried to hide with a scarf.

'She can't even afford new work clothes. But she's still fighting Morrison anyway.'

She walked with defensive posture. Of course she did. She grew up in foster care. Shoulders back, eyes constantly moving, scanning her surroundings. She'd learned early that the world wasn't safe. She checked the alley entrance and stopped.

'Good instincts. She knows something is wrong.'

She turned and chose the longer route around the block instead.

Smart. But Morrison's men were ready for that.

The sedan started rolling forward immediately. They were going to cut her off at the next intersection, grab her when she crossed the street.

'Not if I get there first.'

I moved immediately. My combat training kicked in and I intercepted Maya half a block before the kill zone, grabbing her arm from behind. She reacted instantly. Her elbow drove back toward my ribs with surprising force.

'Damn, she can fight!'

I deflected the blow and turned her to face the real threat.

"Look," I said quietly.

The sedan accelerated toward us, engine growling.

Maya's brown eyes went wide. She understood the danger immediately. I pulled her into a recessed doorway, some old building entrance that was boarded up. We pressed into the narrow space just as the sedan screeched past us.

'That was close. Too close.'

Then I saw the passenger window rolling down.

A gun barrel appeared, tracking back toward where we were hiding.

'Shit!'

I shoved Maya deeper into the doorway and covered her with my body.

Gunfire erupted. The sound was deafening. Bullets sparked off the brick wall inches from my head and concrete dust rained down on us.

'Don't get hit. Don't get hit. Don't get hit.'

The sedan sped away before anyone could call the cops. Fucking assholes, they’re professionals. They knew exactly how much time they had.

We were pressed together in the cramped space, both breathing hard. My heart was pounding so loud I could hear it in my ears.

Maya suddenly shoved me away hard and I stumbled back.

"Who the hell are you?" Her voice was controlled but I could hear the fear underneath. "How did you know they were coming?"

'Good question. What do I tell her?'

"My name is Ethan Cole," I said. Might as well be direct. "We have a common enemy. James Morrison. Daniel Cross. Senator Richard Cross."

Recognition flashed in her eyes. Then suspicion.

"Ethan Cole is dead," she said flatly. "I read the articles. Car accident, missing from the hospital…"

"The articles were lies," I interrupted. "Written by people working for the same guys who just tried to kill you. And missing doesn't mean dead."

Her hand moved to her messenger bag defensively.

'That's where she keeps her evidence. I'd bet money on it.'

"How do you know about my investigation?" she asked sharply.

My phone buzzed before I could answer.

[WARNING: ASSASSINS CIRCLING BACK] [REINFORCEMENTS INBOUND: 3 MINUTES]

'Damn it. They're not giving up.'

I looked at Maya and saw her reading the tension in my face.

"They're coming back," I said. "With more people this time. So you have a choice, keep running alone until they catch you and kill you, or work with me and fight back."

She studied me for a long moment, looking for any sign I was lying or trying to trap her.

'Come on. Trust me. We need each other.'

"We need to talk," she finally said. "But not here. I know a place that's safe."

[MISSION PROGRESS: 34%] [TRUST LEVEL: MINIMAL] [WARNING: FULL DISCLOSURE MAY BE REQUIRED]

'Full disclosure? Like telling her about the system? Yeah, that'll go over great. "Hi, I have a weird sci-fi interface thingy in my head that gives me missions." She'll think I'm insane.'

But I didn't have a choice. Maya was already moving toward the subway entrance and I followed.

She was my first ally, my best shot at taking down the network that destroyed my life.

'I just have to convince her I'm not crazy. Easy, right?'

We had three minutes disappear into the city before Morrison's reinforcements arrived. 

'This better be worth it.'