Chapter 8 - Checkmate
The smoke cleared within minutes, revealing three of Victor’s men unconscious on the cold concrete floor, their weapons scattered across the room. Victor himself was pinned against the steel wall by Marcus, a cold blade pressed firmly against his throat.
I stepped out from the observation room, my boots clicking rhythmically against the floor. I walked slowly toward Victor, stopping just an arm's length away. He glared at me, blood trickling from a shallow cut on his forehead, his eyes wild with rage and disbelief.
"You... you're just a nurse," he spat, struggling against Marcus's grip. "You don't know anything about this world!"
"I used to think that too," I said softly, pulling the Black Ledger from my jacket and letting it dangle lazily in my hand. "I used to think I was just an ordinary person caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. But Carl taught me a very important lesson during our games of Scrabble, Victor. He taught me that the most unassuming piece on the board is often the one that wins the game."
Victor’s eyes widened as he stared at the book in my hand. "You... you have the ledger. Do you even know what's inside? Do you know how many people want you dead for just holding it?"
"Let them come," I replied calmly. "Because as of five minutes ago, I sent encrypted copies of every single page in this book to every federal agency, international news outlet, and rival syndicate in the country, with a timed release set to detonate if my heart rate monitor ever stops transmitting."
Victor went completely pale. "You... you're insane. You just signed your own death warrant!"
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"No, Victor," I said, leaning in close so my voice was a chilling whisper directly in his ear. "I just made myself the most dangerous person alive. And right now, you're looking at your new queen."
I turned away, gesturing to Marcus and Elena. "Tie him up, throw him in the holding cell, and prepare the jet. It's time for Mrs. Vance to pay a visit to the rest of the board members."
