Page 65 of Oliver

Langston sat across from me, sleeves rolled up, sipping expensive scotch like we were at a fundraiser instead of a hostage situation.

“You’re loyal,” he said calmly. “I respect that. But loyalty to the wrong side… that’s fatal.”

I spit blood on the floor. “You’re gonna regret touching her. You don’t know Oliver. You tried to kill his wife.”

Langston leaned in. “You don’t get it, soldier.Shewas never the problem. It’s what she knows. What she has. That drive? It’ll bring down people who never heard her name. I can’t let that happen.”

I smiled. “Then you really don’t get it either.”

He frowned.

“Emery Steel doesn’t back down. She doesn’t hide. Shefights.She has had to fight her entire life to become who she is.

The lights cut out.

Langston stood up, eyes narrowing.

And somewhere outside, a silent alarm tripped.

I grinned through the blood. “Showtime.”

48

Oliver

Langston’s Compound

We hit the perimeter of the compound—silent and fast.

Raven cut the power and neutralized the security grid with a black box rigged in Cyclone’s backpack. The guards never saw us coming.

I breached the main hall first, night-vision goggles sweeping left. Langston’s security was well-trained—former military, brutal, cold—but notus. We are the best. Army Special Forces.

I moved like a shadow, clearing rooms with methodical silence. Every heartbeat brought me closer to Gage. To Langston.

To the end.

A shout broke the silence. Then gunfire.

Raven’s voice came through my headgear. “We’re blown. Taking fire on the south wing. Langston’s moving!”

Cyclone: “I’ve got visual. He’s headed for the helipad!”

I didn’t answer.

I ran.

I took out two guards with a flash-blind strike to the throat and reached the makeshift holding cell in seconds. Gage wasstrapped to a metal chair, blood at the corner of his mouth but a grin on his face.

“Took you long enough.”

“Shut up and duck.”

I shot the lock and caught him as he fell forward. He staggered but nodded. “Langston?”

“Mine.”

The helicopter was already spoolingup, blades slicing the air, dust whirling. Langston shoved a black duffel into the copilot’s hands and turned to board—just as I emerged from the darkness.

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