Chapter 740
Chapter 740:
The harbor smelled of salt, diesel, and rotting fish. Fog rolled in off the water, obscuring the moon and turning the shipping containers into looming, ghostly monoliths.
Pier 9 was a fortress of light in the gloom. Floodlights bathed a massive cargo ship, the Leviathan, in a harsh white glare. Cranes swung overhead, lowering crates into the hold.
Skye stood at the gate, alone. She wore a white trench coat, a beacon in the darkness.
“Identify yourself!” a guard shouted, aiming a rifle at her.
“Skye Sterling,” she shouted back, her voice steady. “Tell Celeste Cain I’m here to negotiate p>
The guard touched his earpiece. A moment later, the gate buzzed open.
“She’s expecting you,” the guard sneered. “Main deck p>
Skye walked up the gangplank. Her heart was a drum in her chest. One, two, three. She counted her steps to keep calm.
On the deck, Celeste was waiting. She sat on a crate, sipping champagne from a crystal flute, wrapped in a fur coat.
“I knew you’d come,” Celeste purred. “Desperation is such a predictable cologne p>
“I’m not desperate,” Skye said, stopping ten feet away. “I’m pragmatic. You want the company. I want to survive. Let’s make a deal p>
“A deal?” Celeste laughed. “Darling, I hold all the cards. Why should I give you anything p>
“Because,” Skye said, reaching into her pocket.
The guards raised their weapons. Skye pulled out a flash drive.
“This drive contains the encryption keys to the Oracle algorithm. The real one. Not the version on the market p>
Celeste’s eyes narrowed. “The predictive code? The one that can forecast market trends p>
“And political instability,” Skye added. “And supply chain disruptions. It’s worth billions. More than the debt p>
𝖴𝘯mo𝖽і𝘧𝗶𝖾𝘥 chа𝗉𝘵𝗲𝗿s оո 𝘣е𝘭ոо𝘃е𝘭𝘀.c𝗼𝘮
Celeste’s gaze sharpened. “Why give it to me p>
“Because I want out,” Skye lied. “I want you to forgive the debt, leave Julian alone, and let me walk away. You get the ultimate weapon. I get my life back p>
Celeste stood. She walked over to Skye, her heels clicking on the metal deck, and took the drive.
“You’re smarter than you look,” Celeste said. “But also more cowardly p>
“Survival isn’t cowardly,” Skye said.
BOOM.
A massive explosion ripped through the air across the harbor. The fuel tank Liam had compromised finally gave way, sending a fireball erupting into the sky and painting the fog orange.
Celeste flinched. “What was that p>
“That,” Skye said, smiling cold and sharp, “was the distraction p>
“Intruders!” a guard shouted into his radio. “Breach at the stern! Breach at the stern p>
Alistair and Lucian had boarded.
Message from Noa: Hope you’re having a great time, lovely readers. Have a great day! God loves you and Noa wishes you all the best. p>