Chapter 8 - THE PERSON ABOVE THE COLONEL
The name on the paper stayed in my head.
Admiral Thomas Voss.
Commander Brooks had written his name.
Not Kane.
Not another officer.
The person above him.
I had heard of Voss.
Everyone in the Navy had.
A respected commander.
A decorated officer.
A man who appeared in newspapers whenever something went right.
But I had learned something during my years of service.
The people who look perfect are often the hardest to understand.
The door opened again.
This time, it was Kane.
He walked inside alone.
No guards.
No weapon.
Just confidence.
“You’re getting closer.”
I didn’t answer.
He sat across from me.
“You think I’m the villain.”
“You threw me into the ocean.”
He nodded.
“Fair point.”
I couldn’t believe how calm he was.
“You’re not even denying it.”
“No.”
That surprised me.
“Why?”
“Because everyone already saw.”
He leaned forward.
“But they saw only one moment.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you don’t know the whole story.”
I smiled.
“Every criminal says that.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Careful.”
“There it is.”
“What?”
“The real you.”
The room became quiet.
Kane stood.
“You think this is about power.”
“Isn’t it?”
“No.”
He looked at me.
“This is about survival.”
“Whose survival?”
He didn’t answer.
Instead, he walked toward the door.
Then stopped.
“Ask yourself something.”
I waited.
“If I wanted you dead…”
He looked back.
“Why are you still alive?”
The door closed.
And for the first time…
I wondered if Kane had saved me from something worse.
Then my phone vibrated.
A new message.
From Daniel Cross.
Impossible.
Again.
May you like
The message contained only one sentence.
KANE IS NOT YOUR ENEMY. HE IS YOUR WARNING.
