Chapter 964
“Bravo,” The Administrator’s voice boomed through hidden speakers, filling the room with a chilling resonance. “What a performance.”
A cold, humorless laugh followed. “Welcome to the fishbowl. Dominic was right about one thing — he was a middle manager. And I’m here to fire him.”
The room was sealed — a suffocating glass box. Outside the transparent walls, The Administrator’s private army stood in silent formation, an impenetrable barrier.
Dominic lay on the floor, clutching his bleeding shoulder. He looked up at the screen with wide, terrified eyes, every trace of his earlier arrogance stripped away.
“Administrator,” Dominic gasped. “I got them here for you.”
“You failed, Dominic,” the voice replied, cold and synthetic, utterly devoid of emotion. “You let them compromise the Citadel’s location. You’re obsolete.”
𝗔𝖽diс𝗍𝗂𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘁𝗈rieѕ on 𝗴𝗮𝘭n𝗈𝗏𝘦𝗅ѕ.com
“So what now?” Liam shouted, aiming his gun at the glass. “You’re going to watch us starve to death?”
“No,” The Administrator said, unhurried. “I’m going to make you an offer you can’t refuse.”
A button was pressed. A section of the glass wall slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a narrow gap.
“One of you walks out,” The Administrator said, “with the drive. The rest — well, the Velvet Room has a long history of tragic fires.”
“We don’t leave people behind,” Alistair said, stepping in front of Skye.
“Noble,” The Administrator said, the word dripping with contempt. “But stupid. Skye Sterling. Come here.”
Skye’s eyes moved between Liam and Alistair. A silent conversation passed between them in less than a second.
“Trust me,” she whispered.
She walked out of the glass box and into the hallway, standing before the projection of The Administrator.
“I have the drive,” Skye said, holding up the USB so he could see it clearly.
“Smart girl,” The Administrator said, with the faint tone of someone reluctantly impressed. “Place it on the table.”
“It’s encrypted,” Skye said, pulling her hand back. “With a voice key. My voice, specifically.”
The Administrator paused. “Is that so.”
“Kill us, and you never get the data,” Skye said, pressing the advantage. “Let us go, and I’ll unlock it for you.”
“You think you have leverage,” The Administrator said, the warmth evaporating from his voice. “But you forgot something. I have something of yours.”
The screen changed. It showed the van outside, parked in the alley. The doors were open. The van was empty.
“Parker?” Skye whispered.
“Your hacker was careless,” The Administrator said, satisfaction evident in his tone. “He was so focused on the cameras inside, he never saw my men approaching the van.”
The realization hit her like ice water. Parker was gone.
“I have him,” The Administrator said. “If you want to see him alive, bring the drive to me.”
“Where?” Skye demanded.
“The Citadel,” The Administrator said, the name settling over the room like a sentence. “Come alone. Or the boy dies.”
Smoke began pouring into the glass box — thick, acrid, and fast-moving. The fire protocol had been activated.
“Now!” Skye screamed.
.
.