Chapter 853
“She might ask him to kill you,” Alistair said bluntly.
Felix’s expression didn’t change. “Then we make it convincing.”
“We can’t use live rounds,” Skye said. “And Travis can’t aim to save his life. If he misses and hits the wall, Celeste will know it’s a blank.”
“I’ll give him a gun loaded with theatrical blanks,” Felix said, pulling a Glock from his waistband. “They cycle the slide and produce a muzzle flash. I’ll wear a Squib — a remote-detonated blood pack under my shirt. When he fires, I trigger the pack. It has to be perfect.”
“What if she checks the body?” Travis asked, his voice shaking.
“Then Alistair drops her before she gets close,” Skye said. She looked around the room. “We’re running out of time. Get geared up. Alistair and I will be the extraction team — we’ll be in the shadows.”
“Let’s go,” Felix said.
The docks were shrouded in fog and the smell of dead fish. Warehouse 13 loomed like a rusted beast in the darkness.
S𝖺𝗏𝘦 𝘆𝗈𝘂𝗋 𝗳𝖺𝘷o𝗿𝗂te 𝗇о𝘃𝖾l𝘀 𝗈𝗇 𝘨𝗮𝘭𝗻𝗈v𝘦𝗅𝘀.с𝗈m
Travis walked toward the open bay doors, clutching a silver briefcase. Felix followed a step behind, wearing a dark suit and sunglasses, looking every inch the hired muscle.
“Stop.” A voice boomed through a speaker, filling the cavernous space.
Travis froze.
Floodlights snapped on, blinding them both.
High above the warehouse floor, Celeste Cain stood on a catwalk. She wore a white trench coat, pristine against the grime surrounding her.
“Who is he?” Celeste called down, pointing at Felix.
“My protection,” Travis shouted, his voice cracking. “The file is heavy. I needed help carrying it out.”
“I didn’t authorize a plus one,” Celeste said coldly.
“He helped me get past the security,” Travis lied. “He wants a cut.”
Celeste studied Felix from above. Her gaze lingered on his face for a long moment. She didn’t recognize him — to her, he was just another hired gun.
“Bring him forward,” she ordered.
“The briefcase first,” Travis stammered. “Deactivate the bomb in my neck.”
“Ah-ah,” Celeste tutted. “Loyalty first.” She looked down at Travis. “Prove you’re done with Skye Sterling. Kill him.” She pointed at Felix.
“What?” Travis gasped.
“The bodyguard,” Celeste said. “He’s a loose end. If he helped you steal it, he can help someone else steal it back. Kill him, and you get your freedom.”
Travis looked at Felix. Felix gave a microscopic nod. “Do it.”
Travis raised the gun. His hand was shaking so badly that the barrel wavered like a compass searching for north.
“Do it!” Celeste screamed. “Or I blow your head off right now!” She held up a remote detonator.
Travis squeezed his eyes shut.
He pulled the trigger.
The bang was deafening in the enclosed space. A burst of fire erupted from the barrel.
Felix jerked backward as a bloom of red exploded across his chest. He crumpled to the ground, twitched once, and lay still.
Travis stared at the gun in his hand, his face hollow with shock.
“Good boy,” Celeste laughed. “Bring me the case.”