Chapter 7 - THE TRADE
Maya was taken to an abandoned medical complex outside the city.
Her father and the girls were separated from her.
That was deliberate.
Victor understood fear.
He knew Maya would endure almost anything herself.
But threaten the children and she would break.
Daniel led her into a former surgical room.
Victor Hale was waiting.
He looked almost exactly as Maya remembered from her wedding.
Silver hair.
Expensive suit.
Gentle smile.
He had once danced with her at the reception.
“You look like your mother.”
Maya’s stomach turned.
“Don’t say her name.”
“I admired her.”
“You killed her.”
Victor sighed.
“She made an unfortunate choice.”
“You murdered her.”
“I protected an organization.”
Maya stepped toward him.
Daniel blocked her.
Victor smiled.
“That fire is exactly what worried Ethan.”
“Where are the girls?”
“Safe.”
“My father?”
“Angry.”
“If you hurt them—”
“You’ll do what?”
Maya said nothing.
Victor walked around her.
“You have something I need.”
“I don’t.”
“File 42.”
“Cole has it.”
“Cole has a copy.”
Victor stopped.
“The original encryption key is somewhere else.”
Maya understood.
Ethan.
Victor smiled.
“Your husband stole it.”
“He’s not my husband anymore.”
“That may be emotionally satisfying, but legally inaccurate.”
Maya stared at him.
Victor continued.
“Ethan became sentimental.”
“You mean human.”
“I mean weak.”
“Where is he?”
Victor smiled.
“Closer than you think.”
A door opened.
Two men dragged Ethan inside.
His face was bruised.
His shirt was torn.
But he was alive.
Maya hated the relief she felt.
Victor looked between them.
“Beautiful.”
Ethan glared at him.
“Let them go.”
“Give me the key.”
“You already know my answer.”
Victor walked toward Maya.
“Perhaps Maya can change it.”
Ethan’s expression changed.
“Don’t touch her.”
Victor smiled.
There it was.
The weakness.
Maya saw it too.
Victor had built his entire system on leverage.
But leverage worked both ways.
She looked at Ethan.
“Give him the key.”
Ethan stared at her.
“Maya—”
“Give it to him.”
Victor looked pleased.
Ethan slowly reached toward his belt.
He removed a small metal drive.
Daniel took it.
Victor inserted it into a computer.
The screen flashed.
ACCESS GRANTED.
Victor smiled.
Then the smile disappeared.
There was no catalog.
No names.
No accounts.
Only a single video.
Maya’s mother appeared on the screen.
She was sitting in her kitchen fourteen years earlier.
Looking directly into the camera.
“If you’re watching this, Victor found me.”
Victor went pale.
Maya stopped breathing.
Her mother continued.
“And if my daughter is watching…”
May you like
She smiled sadly.
“Maya, I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you sooner.”
