Page 170 of Scars of Fate

Every muscle in his body looked ready to explode.

The copilot reached for me.

“Stop.”

He froze.

“You want me alive.”

“Yes.”

“Then I walk on my own.”

“You’re not in a position to negotiate.”

“I’m the only person who can open the box after you kill Lucas.”

His gaze narrowed.

“I know exactly what I’m worth to Meridian.”

That wasn’t true.

I didn’t know what Meridian was.

But he didn’t know that.

The copilot stepped closer.

“You know nothing about Meridian.”

“I know it isn’t an organization.”

Something flickered in his eyes.

Surprise.

Small.

But there.

I kept going.

“It’s a weapon.”

His smile disappeared.

Behind me, Lucas remained silent.

He understood what I was doing.

The copilot had information.

I needed him angry enough to reveal it.

“The file contains every transaction Meridian made,” I said. “Every government. Every contractor. Every murdered civilian.”

“You haven’t opened it.”