Harlan’s smile didn’t reach his eyes.
“Wise choice,” he said.
“Asset Mercer, welcome to AVG Contingency.”
He handed me a badge.
Black.
No name.
Just a number: 001.
“Your first order,” he said.
“Extract Asset Sato.
Bring her to Safe Point Alpha.
Alive.”
I took the badge.
“Why her?”
“Carrier status,” he said.
“She’s essential to Phase Two.”
“Phase Two?”
“Global rollout,” Ije said from the table.
Her voice was flat.
“Seattle was the test.
Now we scale.”
I looked at her.
“You’re okay with this?”
“I’m compromised,” she said.
“I don’t have a choice.”
I did.
But I didn’t show it.
“Where is she?” I asked Harlan.
“Harborview ER.
Still on staff.
Extraction team is en route.”
“I’ll go myself.”
Harlan nodded.
“Efficient.
I like that.”
He turned to leave.
I stopped him.
“One condition.”
He paused.
“Name it.”
“Ije stays with me.
As advisor.”
Harlan’s eyes flicked to her.
She didn’t react.
“Approved,” he said.
“But don’t make me regret it.”
He left.
Ije stood.
“You’re playing a dangerous game.”
“I know.”
“Why keep me alive?”
“Because you know where the bodies are buried.” I tapped the badge.
“And because I’m not done with you.”
She smiled.
It was tired.
“Then let’s go get your nurse.”
Harborview ER was under lockdown.
AVG trucks idled outside.
Men in black moved through the halls.
I walked in like I owned the place.
Badge visible.
Ije at my side.
A guard stopped us.
“Extraction team’s already inside.”
“Stand down,” I said.
“I’m taking over.”
He hesitated.
I showed him the badge.
001.
He stepped aside.
We found Rhea at Station 3, arguing with a tactical leader.
“You can’t just take her,” she was saying.
“She’s stable.”
“She’s overhead,” the leader said.
He grabbed her arm.
I fired.
Once.
He dropped.
Rhea stared at me.
“Kael….”
“We’re leaving,” I said.
“Now.”
She didn’t argue.
We moved fast.
Down the hall.
Past the gurneys.
Past the bodies.
At the exit, three guards waited.
Ije stepped forward.
“Stand down.
They didn’t move.
I drew the pistol.
They did.
Gunfire erupted.
I shoved Rhea behind a pillar.
Ije took cover beside me.
“Plan?” she shouted.
“Run,” I said.
We bolted.
Out the door.
Into the rain.
Tires screeched.
An AVG SUV skidded in front of us.
I fired through the windshield.
The driver slumped.
I pulled him out, shoved Rhea in.
“Drive.”
She didn’t hesitate.
The SUV roared to life.
Ije jumped in the back.
We sped away.
Behind us, alarms wailed.
Rhea glanced at me.
“What the hell was that?”
“Promotion,” I said.
“I’m AVG now.”
She stared.
“You’re joking.”
“I’m not.”
“Why?”
“Because it gets me closer to Harlan.” I met her eyes.
“And because I know about the vector.”
Her face went white.
“You know?”
“Ije told me.”
Rhea’s hands tightened on the wheel.
“I didn’t want this.”
“I know.”
“What now?”
“Now we burn them down.” I glanced at Ije in the rearview.
“All of them.”
Ije didn’t react.
But her eyes met mine.
And for the first time, I saw something there.
Doubt.