Page 113 of Hunt Me
“Unsubstantiated claims?—”
“I have the traffic camera footage your people missed. The brake line analysis contradicts the official report. Morrison’s communications with his handler at Sentinel.” My voice hardens. “I have everything.”
General Hawkins leans forward. “If such evidence existed, why hasn’t it surfaced before now?”
“Because I wanted to understand the full scope before I acted.” I glance at Alexi, drawing strength from his steady presence. “Morrison came after me because I got too close. He threatened torture. He carved up my friend’s face.”
“This is ridiculous,” Walsh mutters.
“Is it?” I pull the single flash drive from my pocket—the one Nikolai reluctantly allowed me to bring. “This contains encrypted copies of everything I just described. Financial records. Communications. Kill orders. All timestamped and verified.”
I slide it across the table.
Kendall stares at it like it might explode. “What do you want?”
Before I can answer, Nikolai’s phone buzzes. He glances at the screen, and something shifts in his expression—satisfaction mixed with cold calculation.
“Interesting timing,” he murmurs.
Kendall’s jaw tightens. “What?”
“It seems we’ve just received additional leverage.” Nikolai turns his phone toward us, showing a news alert. “Senator Harrison’s offshore accounts. Deputy Director Walsh’s relationship with Sentinel’s CEO. General Hawkins’ involvement in unsanctioned drone strikes in allied territory.”
The color drains from Walsh’s face.
“How—” Hawkins starts.
“We have resources you clearly underestimated.” Nikolai sets his phone down with deliberate care. “Shall we discuss terms that work for everyone?”
Kendall recovers first, her composure snapping back into place like armor. “Blackmail won’t improve your negotiating position.”
“Neither will threatening people who possess information you desperately need to be contained.” Nikolai’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “We’re simply establishing mutual incentives.”
“What guarantees do we have that you’ll honor any agreement?” General Hawkins demands.
“The same ones we have regarding yours,” Dmitri speaks up, his tone cutting. “Which is to say, none. Welcome to the beauty of mutually assured destruction.”
Walsh removes his glasses, cleaning them with shaking hands. “You’re talking about exposing classified operations that protect national security.”
“I’m talking about exposing murder disguised as policy.” I lean forward. “Project Nightshade wasn’t protecting anyone. It was eliminating witnesses to illegal activity. My parents discovered evidence of arms trafficking through government channels. They were patriots who believed in accountability.”
“They were liabilities,” Kendall says flatly.
The words hit like a physical blow.
Alexi’s hand finds mine under the table, his fingers lacing through mine with bruising intensity. A warning—don’t react, don’t give them ammunition.
“So you admit it.” My voice comes out steady despite the rage burning through my chest. “You authorized their execution.”
“I admit nothing.” Kendall’s expression remains carved from ice. “But hypothetically, individuals who compromise national security operations face consequences.”
“Like sixteen-year-old girls trapped in cars, listening to their mothers bleed out?” Heat floods my face. “That’s your definition of consequences?”
“Miss Mitchell?—”
The conference room door explodes inward.
Glass shatters across the table as Erik rolls to his feet, weapon already drawn. Dmitri moves with identical precision, positioning himself between the threat and his brothers.
