EXECUTIVE AFFAIRS

IN THE

. Ruby gripped her weapon tightly, her thoughts on her sister. Alex scanned t

, "how long until we l

nse. "They're hacking into the grid. You

" Specter muttered. "Bu

ex exchange

out there?"

e woman in tactical gear from the fac

y said, leveling

r expression calm. "I just sav

s eyes. "Why sho

" the woman snapped. "You can argue l

osion shook the building. Smoke poured thro

-

xpected

the safehouse. The woman's tactical precision saved them from an

ge from her s

trust

ds flashing like a

ex shouted, yank

eped in. Cou

ut," Ruby said,

a mile east," the woman

ut the terrain was treacherous. Ruby's

mic, "can you confirm Alex's loca

d. "Why are you

ck," Ruby

-

in t

bunker beneath the forest floor. As they secur

is, but Alex's tracker went dark for two

She turned to Alex, who

my sister disappeared?"

ression confused. "What

the qu

Alex said, his tone de

hifting in her hand. "Then why does S

riously questioning me now? Afte

arrowing. "If there's a mole, you don't ha

lunged, grabbing Alex's weapon. A brief stru

im down. "You think Greaves found you b

Alex shouted. "Ru

message and Specter's re

ered, "can you trace

pecter replied. "But i

t. "We can't wait for proof. If

oded inward. Greaves's men poured in, weapons

y's arm. "You have to trust me.

the situation forced her hand. She nodded, sprinting tow

nemy at bay. But as Ruby retrieved the files, she notice

ood ra

ng. "The files-they're tagged. Greave

-

ffh

he was gone. The woman was wou

ic rising. "Alex is missing

t on my feed. Ruby... I think he's

she thought she could trust

ed in, a new message

. Choose who to save-your

her sister restrained on Marcus's jet

on would chan

ght of

d one feed, while Alex, his expression unreadable, drove into the night on the other. The fi

e. If that jet takes off, we lose your sister. If Alex escape

cing. She glanced at the files in he

-

and C

ecision. "Specter, track Alex. If he's

d an eyebrow. "

e files to the woman. "You're going after Alex.

odded. "Fine. But if he tur

r heart breaking. "Specter, guide me

is a gamble, Ruby. I

y cut him off

-

t's Co

drums, observing the guards patrolling the perimeter.

a distraction,"

e was an explosion,a fuel parked a few miles away

r weapon drawn. Inside, Marcus

amused. "You're just in time

un at him. "Let he

k you're in control here?

d against her restraints, her muff

-

man's

s directions, tailing Alex's vehicle a

ained, "he's heading for the borde

m. "You have to stop hi

rained her

by the moonlight. "You don't understand. If I

-

et St

eld, Ruby inched

Marcus said, his voice laced with mockery. Now, d

und the trigger. "Let her

But you're forgetting one thing-

ttention. She glanced down and saw a smal

by hissed, "w

omb. Marcus must have a failsaf

n cold. "And le

utes before it blow

ed as Marcus's

-

erate

her sister's terrified g

arcus's guards. Before Marcus could react, R

growled, pressing h

om his lip. "Even if you kill me,

riggers and slammed the butt of her gun ag

t ninety seconds

er sister, cut

sappeared fr

-

ffh

s still trained on

said. "Who are you

e. "If I tell you, you'll regre

." the w

o a halt nearby. Men in tactical gear poured ou

les," one of

Looks like you'

the forest erup

-

gh the woods, the glow of the airfield's fire light

rom an unkn

the inevitable. Gre