Page 75 of Final Sins

“Sir,” the guard presented the stolen tech to Munsinger like a trophy.

The general snatched the controller away and let it drop. The corner of the device shattered, sending shards of black plastic skittering across the concrete. Munsinger raised his foot, stomping hard across the center of the console. The crunch of plastic and circuitry under his boot echoed in the sudden silence.

The man’s transformation was as swift as it was chilling. His voice, when he spoke, dripped with satisfaction. “For once, the squints in the lab were right. Our electronic tech beats yours.”

Now it all made sense. Tai’s drones showed no one in the vicinity, only they’d been seeing exactly what their opponents wanted them to see.

Jason caught Alex’s eye. “Sorry,” he mouthed silently.

She shook her head. He had nothing to apologize for. He couldn’t have known about this new tech.

The general grinned. “I was hoping you’d fall for the set up, but I had my doubts. Shouldn’t have. You jumped in with both feet, in your usual style.”

“You wanted me to call the major.” Gravy was clearly putting a few things together. “You practically ordered me to ask for his help. Did you even care about me getting somewhere safe?”

His father flicked him a look, barely acknowledging his own son. The lack of response rang more loudly than a slap to the face.

And suddenly, it all fell into place for Alex. “You’re here for Jason.” Her gaze flicked to Cody, standing rigid nearby. “And Cody.”

Munsinger’s smile was shark-like. “An extra prize.”

Gravy’s voice cracked as he addressed his father. “What about the rest of us?”

The temperature dropped ten degrees as the old soldier studied them, his eyes devoid of warmth or mercy. “Collateral damage.”

They’d walked right into it, step by careful step.

The general’s voice cut through the air like the crack of a whip. “Move out. Into the far corner. Now.”

Alex was herded along with the others, the muzzles of rifles, both real and holographic, prodding them forward. Gabe moved slowly, as if in a dream-state. She eyed her teammates, and Jason’s, searching for any sign of hope. Mac and Liv stared straight ahead, but she caught Tai, Fenn, and Kate exchanginglooks with Jason, their expressions hard as granite, igniting a small flame of hope.

These people were steel wrapped in skin. If anyone could turn this nightmare around, they’d do it.

As they stumbled down the darkened path towards the far corner of the space, she drifted closer to Jason. Their hands brushed, sending an electric current up her arm despite the dire circumstances.

Their eyes met, and for a heartbeat, the world around them faded away. The fear, the danger, all of it receded in the face of the connection crackling between them. Alex felt a surge of longing, of possibilities left unexplored. But as quickly as it came, reality crashed back in, cold and unforgiving.

The general’s mocking voice cut through the air. “Keep moving.”

As they were roughly pushed forward, Alex’s stomach twisted with a grim realization. The weight of their predicament settled on her shoulders like a lead blanket. She glanced at Jason, her throat tight with unspoken words.

Would they even have a future to explore?

40

The stenchof damp concrete and rusted metal assaulted Alex’s nostrils as they were herded deeper into the bowels of the abandoned amusement park. Their footsteps echoed ominously off the crumbling walls, each step bringing them deeper into what felt like their own personal descent into hell.

As her eyes adjusted to the gloom, she checked on the others. Despite their current predicament, everyone appeared unharmed. Gabriel, in particular, caught her attention. The shock seemed to be wearing off. Much to her relief, he looked more alert, studying the underground space.

The details weren’t pretty. There were eight real enemies, at most. But each one had multiple doppelgangers.

No way Jason and his team—or hers—could disarm that many highly-trained men unarmed. When they had no idea who was real and who wasn’t … the odds of success went from astronomical to laughably impossible.

Apparently satisfied that they’d been herded far enough into the corner, the general nodded at the man at his side.

“Sit down and shut up,” the assistant ordered them.

The other guards, and their replicas, formed a ring around them, careful to stay well out of reach, assault rifles at the ready.

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