Chapter 1113
Skye peered out into the darkness. A red laser dot danced across the floor, hunting for a target.
“Who is it?” Victoria cried from the corner.
“Ouroboros,” Alistair said. “They followed us. Or they followed Parker.”
“They want the chip,” Skye said. “They saw me throw it. They think it’s gone.”
“No,” Alistair said. “They have thermal. They saw you switch it. Or they don’t care — they’re here to kill everyone who knows about it either way.”
They were trapped. High ground, but exposed.
“We need to get to the cars,” Alistair said. “Julian and Ethan are sitting ducks down there. I’ll draw fire. Skye, you take Victoria down the stairs. Go.”
“No.” Skye grabbed his arm. “I’m not leaving you up here.”
“Skye, this isn’t a debate!”
“I have the chip!” Skye said. “They want me. If I go out, they shoot me.”
“Exactly!”
“Not if I threaten to destroy it,” Skye said. She pulled the real Ruby Drive from inside her dress. “Listen. I’ll walk out. I’ll hold it up. I’ll bargain.”
“It’s suicide.”
“It’s the only play.”
Skye stood before he could stop her.
“Skye!”
She walked to the railing. The red dot swung immediately to her chest.
“I have it!” Skye screamed into the wind. “The real one! You want it? Come and get it!”
She held the Ruby Drive out over the edge. “But if you shoot, I drop it. And this time it’s real. I’ll crush it!”
The firing stopped.
Silence.
“That’s what I thought,” Skye muttered.
“Safe passage!” she shouted down into the darkness. “For everyone. We walk to the cars. We drive away. You get the stone.”
“Drop it first,” a voice called back, amplified by a megaphone from the base of the cliff.
“No. We drive away. I’ll leave it on the hood of your car.”
A pause.
“Agreed. Come down.”
“He’s lying,” Alistair said, rising to stand beside her.
“I know,” Skye said. “But it buys us time to get down the stairs.”
They moved — down the spiral staircase, feet clanging on metal.
When they reached the bottom, the heavy iron door was the only thing between them and whatever was waiting outside.
“Ready?” Alistair asked, gun drawn.
“No,” Skye said.
He kicked the door open.
They burst out.
A dozen men in tactical gear stood waiting in a semi-circle. The leader stepped forward.
Gabriel.
Of course.
“You’re persistent, Skye,” Gabriel said. He wasn’t holding a gun. He was holding a detonator.
“You rigged the cars,” Alistair said.
“Insurance,” Gabriel smiled. “Hand over the Drive.”
Skye stepped forward. “Let them go first.”
“Skye, don’t,” Alistair warned.
“Go,” Skye told him. “Take Julian and Victoria. They need a hospital.”
Gabriel nodded to his men. They parted, opening a path to Alistair’s car.
Alistair didn’t move.
“Go!” Skye screamed.
Victoria grabbed Alistair’s arm. “We have to get Julian out!”
Alistair looked at Skye, something raw and agonized in his eyes. He backed away slowly, helping Ethan lift Julian into the car.
“Smart man,” Gabriel said. He held out his hand. “The Ruby Drive.”