At the loading dock, I pull out my decryption device and get to work hacking the keypad. 30 seconds and I'm in. The door clicks open.
My lips curl in a smile. "Let's see what secrets you're hiding, Tane."
I ghost through the sterile halls, a specter in the darkness. Each step brings me closer to the answers we seek. I won't leave here without them. There is no room for mistakes this time.
Voices sound ahead, deep in conversation about something they saw on TikTok. I press myself flat against the wall, scarcely breathing as two guards pass. Oblivious, thankfully sucked into the latest clickbait rather than noticing little old me breaking in to their maximum security stronghold. My hand slides to the knife at my hip, hungering for violence, but I resist the urge. Not yet.
It's almost a shame they're terrible at their jobs and making this easy for me, removing the need for violence. But I know that time will come soon enough.
I find the main office and slip inside. My pulse thunders as I slot my flash drive into the computer. "Come on, come on," I urge through gritted teeth. The download commences, my eyes darting between door and screen.
Almost there. I'm almost—
Footsteps in the hall. I dart beneath the desk, forcing my breathing to steady. Just a guard's routine patrol. He'll pass soon enough.
And then Tane's secrets will be ours.
The guard's heavy footsteps grow louder as he approaches the office door. It's thankfully a large desk, but even so I'm awkwardly crunched underneath it. I hold perfectly still beneath the desk, my muscles tensed and ready to react. Obviously, I'd prefer not to draw attention to myself and therefore our plan, but sometimes you've gotta do what you've gotta do.
The door creaks open. I see the guard's boots enter, and hear him shuffling around the room. Checking things casually, he has no idea I'm here. After a few agonizing moments, he turns and leaves, the door clicking shut behind him.
I let out a silent breath of relief, not that I didn't get to hurt the asshole, but because he didn't cause a delay in our plans. The download finishes, and I pocket the flash drive. Time to get out of here.
I crack the door open, peeking out. All clear. I slip into the hallway, moving swift and silent through the corridors. Almost to the exit.
Suddenly, there's a shout from behind—I've been spotted. Fuck! No time for stealth now.
I break into a sprint, my boots pounding the concrete floor. More yelling, and then gunshots, bullets ricocheting off the walls around me. Adrenaline surges through my veins as I barrel toward the exit.
I burst out into the night air, my pulse roaring in my ears. The guards are close behind, still shooting. I weave and dodge, making for the shadows of the alley ahead.
A bullet grazes my shoulder but I keep going, fueled by determination, ignoring the searing pain that shoots through my shoulder and upper arm.
I lose them in the dark maze of alleys, scrambling up a fire escape to the rooftops.
Only when I'm a safe distance away, lost in the glittering sea of the island city, do I finally stop to catch my breath. I made it.
And now Tane's secrets are ours.
I glance down at my shoulder, seeing the tear in my shirt and the blood seeping through. Just a graze, but it stings something fierce. No time to tend to it now though. I've got what I came for.
I make my way acrossthe rooftops, using the skills Rake taught me to leap silently between buildings. Parkour basically makes everything a giant playground and I'm fucking here for it. The city spreads out below me, neon and headlights twinkling in the night. Silhouettes of palm trees flicker, and the ocean spreads out into forever, dark and dangerous. Up here, everything almost looks beautiful, hiding its dark underbelly.
My thoughts go to Devon, hoping she's holding up okay while I'm gone. This info could be the key to taking Tane down for good. To finally getting our lives back. She's been so strong through it all, but I know it wears on her. That every time Tane's name is mentioned, her memories of her father's actions, and how this all started, come flooding back.
As I reach the rendezvous point, Zeke comes into view, pacing anxiously. His head snaps up when he hears me, relief flooding his face. "Skyler! You made it. Are you alright?" His brow furrows at the blood on my shoulder.
"Just a scratch," I say, tapping the flashdrive in my pocket and then yanking my hoodie off my head and running my fingers through my hair. "But I got it. Let's get out of here."
He nods, all business again. We descend the fire escape and load into the idling car below.
Dom is at the wheel, his face grim. But he cracks a smile when he sees me. "Welcome back, killer."
I grin wearily back at him. It's good to see my family again.
Dom taps me on the shoulder supportively as we speed off into the night, our mission complete. For now.
I give Zeke and Dom a quick rundown of the mission as Dom expertly navigates the dark streets. How I infiltrated the compound, avoiding the patrols. Swiping the intel from Tane's office. My narrow escape when the guard showed up.