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The humming sound of the Boeing 777 engine felt distant, drowned out entirely by the deafening realization pounding inside Nathan Wells’s ears. / Chapter 7 / 8

Chapter 7 - The Final OverrideCLICK.

Nothing happened.

Julian blinked, staring down at the detonator in horror. The tiny red LED light on the device blinked twice and then turned dead black.

"Looking for this?"

A small hand held up a handful of tiny copper wires. Lily stood right beside the central server rack, a triumphant grin on her face. "Catherine taught me how to disarm security relays before she taught me how to tie my shoes."

Julian roared in fury, lunging across the console to grab Lily by the throat.

Nathan didn't hesitate. He crossed the room in two massive strides, grabbed Julian by the collar of his designer suit, and hurled him bodily across the glass containment table. Julian crashed through a wall of computer monitors, shattering glass everywhere, before sliding unconscious onto the floor.

"Marcus! Secure him," Nathan ordered, not breaking stride.

He rushed to the medical chair, dropping his weapon and falling to his knees beside Catherine. With trembling fingers, he tore the fiber-optic cables from her temples.

"Catherine! Can you hear me?" Nathan cried, cradling her face in his hands.

Catherine’s eyes slowly fluttered open. The vacant, glassy stare vanished, replaced by the warm, brilliant intelligence he had fallen in love with. She blinked against the harsh overhead lights, a faint, exhausted smile touching her pale lips.

"You... you came," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "You found the key."

"I found her," Nathan choked out, tears finally breaking free and streaming down his face as he kissed her forehead. "We both found her."

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My phone was still pressed against my ear. On the other end, Marcus—my most trusted lieutenant—was breathing heavily. The sound of muffled police radios and shouting filtered through the speaker.

My phone was still pressed against my ear. On the other end, Marcus—my m...

Detective Maria Santos tapped her fingernail against the glossy photograph spread across the metal interrogation table. The overhead fluorescent light hummed, casting a sterile, buzzing shadow over the room.

Detective Maria Santos tapped her fingernail against the glossy photogra...

Katherine did not cry when she walked into their immaculate suburban home. The silence of the empty house, which usually felt lonely on the nights Reginald claimed to be working late, now felt like a tactical advantage.

Katherine did not cry when she walked into their immaculate suburban hom...

Lily walked up slowly beside the chair, holding the silver double-helix pendant out in her palm. "I kept my promise, Mrs. Wells. I told him the glass room was weeping."

Catherine reached out with a trembling hand, her fingers brushing Lily’s cheek. "Thank you, my brave little bird. You saved us all."

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