Chapter 14 - THE CLOCK IS TICKING“Thirty minutes,” Ethan stated calmly, his tactical mind shifting gears with terrifying speed. He pulled his combat vest back on, locking down his holster and checking his ammunition magazines with practiced precision. “That’s all the time we have before they wipe out every trace of the antidote.”
“Where is the facility located?” I asked, grabbing my jacket and my 9mm pistol from the rack.
“Coordinates match an abandoned naval munitions bunker hidden beneath the old municipal dry docks,” Ethan replied, striding toward the armory doors. “Kuro, prep the transport. Full tactical loadout. We’re going loud.”
“Ethan, wait,” I said, stepping directly into his path.
He stopped, his dark eyes locking onto mine with fierce intensity. “There’s no time to argue, Erin. I’m not leaving you behind this time, but we move fast.”
“I’m not arguing about coming,” I corrected him firmly. “I’m telling you that Dr. Reed’s files showed the chemical composition of the antidote requires precise cryogenic stabilization during transport. If your men kick the doors in with heavy explosives, the thermal shock will destroy the compounds before we can even administer them.”
Ethan stared at me for a fraction of a second, processing the tactical reality of my words. A grim, appreciative nod crossed his face.
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“Then you ride in the lead vehicle with me,” Ethan commanded. “You handle the samples. I’ll handle the hardware.”
Within five minutes, a convoy of three matte-black SUVs tore down the estate driveway, tires screaming against the asphalt as they broke through the gates and vanished into the morning mist toward the city docks.
