Page 103 of Shadowed Vows: Ghost
He glances around nervously. "We don't have much time. They know."
My blood turns to ice. "Who knows?"
"Everyone. The CEO, the board... they figured out someone was talking." His hands shake as he pulls out a small flash drive. "Everything's on here. Financial records, emails, the whole operation."
I reach for the drive, but he pulls back. "You have to promise me something."
"What is it?"
"When this breaks, don't use my name. I have a family. I can't..."
I bow my head, grasping the gravity of what he's asking. "You have my word. I'll keep your name out of it."
He hesitates for a moment, then places the drive in my hand. "Good luck. You're going to need it."
Before I can respond, he stands up abruptly. His chair scrapes against the floor, drawing attention.
"Wait," I start to say, but he's already moving.
Simon bolts for the door like his ass is on fire, leaving me stunned.What the hell just happened?
That's when I notice. The newspaper man is on his feet. The woman by the counter is moving towards me. Two more men I hadn't noticed before are blocking the back exit.
My heart pounds as realization hits. I'm being boxed in.
Stay calm.Remember your training.
I casually slip the flash drive into my sock when I reach down to get my bag, following Remy's advice about hiding critical items where searchers rarely check immediately.
Cold dread washes over me as I realize I'm completely alone. No comms, no backup—just my wits and the training I've received over the past few days.
Think, Alina. What would you do in the simulation?
My eyes dart around, assessing the environment as Cole had drilled into me. The coffee mug could work as a distraction. The chair could create an obstacle.
The man with the newspaper takes a step closer, his hand reaching inside his jacket. I'm out of time.
It's now or never.
I spring to my feet, knocking over my table in the process. The crash startles the owner, creating a moment of chaos—the exact type of disruption Xander called a "perception break." I use it to my advantage, sprinting towards the main entrance.
A burly man blocks my path, his arms outstretched to grab me. I duck low, executing the evasive maneuver from Jax's training. Using his own momentum against him, Idrive my shoulder into his solar plexus while sweeping his leg. The air whooshes out of him as he stumbles backward.
The training is actually working!
Adrenaline surges through me as I push past him, the door now within reach. My fingers brush the handle, hope rising in my chest.
I'm going to make it!
Suddenly, a sharp pain explodes at the base of my skull. My vision blurs, the world tilting sideways.
Then everything goes black.
The world is spinning as I regain consciousness, my head throbbing with each heartbeat.
I'm in the back of a vehicle, the low hum of tires on pavement filling my ears. My wrists are bound behind my back, and a blindfold covers my eyes. The smell of leather seats and pine air freshener fills my nostrils.
Kade.His name flashes through my mind, an anchor in the storm of disorientation. There's a small a crack in my blindfold, and I catch a glimpse of a digital clock on the dashboard: 5:47 AM. My heart lurches with a spark of hope. In thirteen minutes, Kade will notice I've not there to be picked up. He'll be looking for me.
