Chapter 777
Chapter 777:
Back in the desert, I touched the sapphire bruise forming on my arm. It felt like an anchor. Or a target.
“Ready?” Victoria asked, revving the engine.
I took a deep breath. “Ready p>
The corridor of the canyon had been transformed into a battlefield. Or a playground, depending on who you asked—if you asked the mercenaries chasing us, it was a hunting ground.
Alistair stood with his arms crossed over his chest, bracing against the dashboard as the SUV bounced. Next to him, Victoria—who had slipped into a trance of pure focus—held the steering wheel like a weapon.
“You know the tradition, Alistair,” Victoria announced, her voice echoing over the roar of the engine. “You want to survive? You have to earn it p>
Two black armored trucks appeared at the end of the ravine, flanked by motorcycles. They looked devastating in the morning light. The dust emphasized the width of their formation, the dangerous grace of their approach. They didn’t look annoyed. They looked lethal.
“I thought buying the diversion was earning it,” Alistair drawled, watching the side mirror. “Apparently, the Architect doesn’t accept refunds p>
“Capitalism doesn’t count here,” Victoria shot back, spinning the wheel to avoid a boulder. “We need sweat equity.” She glanced at the rearview mirror. “Task one: Evasive maneuvers. All of you. While chanting, ‘Not today, Satan p>
Behind Alistair, Liam groaned as his head hit the window. “Seriously? I’m bruised p>
“Do it, or you don’t get into the safe house later,” Alistair muttered, dropping his window to take aim.
I watched from the backseat, a laugh bubbling up in my chest—hysteria, perhaps. Seeing the most dangerous men in the city—men who ran syndicates and destroyed corporations—bouncing around in a fugitive SUV while a fashion heiress drove like a rally racer was surreal.
“Not today, Satan!” Liam chanted, the rhythm surprisingly solid as he reloaded his weapon.
𝖱𝗲а𝗱𝖾𝘳 c𝗈𝗺𝗆𝘂𝗻𝘪𝘁𝘺 𝘰𝘯 bе.c𝗼𝘮
“Thirty… forty… fifty miles per hour!” Victoria counted off the speedometer. “Good. Not terrible p>
Inside the car, my father, Richard Sterling, leaned toward me. He held a small, flat drive.
“I know you have the drive and the will,” Richard said softly, his eyes crinkling at the corners despite the danger. “This is the ‘New’ code p>
I took it—a platinum-cased USB, modern and sleek, engraved with binary code.
“It translates to ‘Limitless,’” Richard explained. “Because that is what the algorithm becomes once it connects to the Summer Home’s mainframe p>
Tears pricked my eyes. “Thank you, Dad p>
“Don’t cry,” Liam warned, spotting a drone overhead. “Waterproof mascara has limits, and so does our ammo p>
Outside, the tasks were escalating.
“Next,” Victoria declared, spotting a ramp-like rock formation, “the groom must fly p>
Silence.
Liam looked at Alistair with genuine fear. “Boss, maybe we just breach the blockade p>
Alistair silenced him with a look. He sharpened his focus, loosening his tie slightly. He stared straight at the road ahead, as if he already knew the physics of what Victoria was about to do.