“Subject secured,” someone says.
“Yeah,” I breathe, my voice rough against the floor. “For now.”
They haul me up, rough but controlled, binding my wrists behind me, tighter than what I used on Jolie, efficient and unforgiving.
“Identification confirmed,” another voice says. “Flagged operative.”
“Yeah,” I mutter. “Okay.”
They drag me out into the corrido, alarms threading through the air in controlled pulses.
“Command wants him processed immediately,” someone says.
“Of course they do,” I reply under my breath.
They push me forward, the corridor blurring slightly as they move fast, not giving me time to orient, not giving me time to plan?—
Not yet.
“You picked a hell of a time to improvise,” I murmur to myself.
They force me into a holding chamber, the door sealing behind us with a heavy, final sound.
“On your knees,” one of them orders.
I don’t move.
A strike lands across my back, forcing the motion anyway.
“Yeah,” I grunt, settling into it. “We’re doing this now, huh.”
“Execution order’s already been issued,” another voice says.
I go still.
Not frozen.
Focused.
“Fast turnaround,” I mutter.
“Unauthorized infiltration, data breach, active resistance,” the first one lists. “You don’t get a trial.”
“Wouldn’t want one,” I reply.
They step back, positioning, preparing.
I roll my shoulders slightly, testing the restraint, feeling the tension, the give?—
Not much.
But enough.
“Alright,” I murmur under my breath, my gaze lifting to meet theirs.
“Let’s see how this ends.”
CHAPTER 31
