Chapter 55
“Forget it” Quiana shot back, her voice low but firm. “He’s not going down without a fight.”
“Hold up,” Edith challenged. “You wanna save him no?”
“Save him“” Hugo’s voice cut in, sharp as a knife. “I say, Quiana’s being too soft on him as it is”
Quiana didn’t hesitate to cut him off, her voice taking on an edge. “Forget the drama. We need to divert that shipment from Quintana.”
The night was as black as tar at II PM, and the cruise ship glided away from the shore, swallowed by the darkness.
Julius was in the room, coughing up a storm, the sound rough and jarring
Shane, frowning, gave him a shot. “The auction’s not till the crack of dawn,” he said. “Get some shut–eye tonight.”
Then, Leo came rushing in, laptop in hand, his face serious. “Mr. Hawley, we’ve got a development,” he said urgently. “Nightwolf’s made an
appearance.
On the laptop was a map of the Liberty Star, with a tangle of green lines showing the ship’s layout. A red dot was blinking on the second floor, signaling Nightwolf’s presence.
He was one of the Divine Alliance’s top leaders, a hacker who was only surpassed by K. Nightwolf had been the thorn in Quintana’s side, always one step ahead. Today, the tables might be turning.
Julius’s eyes narrowed, his tone running key. “Let’s bring him in,” he said, his voice firm.
Quiana’s carpiece crackled in the bathroom. “You’re on someone’s radar, Edith teased, like she was enjoying a private joke.
The wall screen showed a progress bar, stuck at 58%, but it was slowly climbing. Quiana, cool as a cucumber, kept chewing her gum, her fingers tapping out a rhythm on the virtual keyboard as the code scrolled by.
“Two in the west wing, three to the east, and one down south. You’re surrounded,” Edith drawled. “You’ve got maybe two minutes.”
As the countdown ticked down to fifty, the screen flashed “Transfer Complete.
Quan quickly synced the data to her phone, packed up her makeshift computer, and ditched her hat and mask. She ran her fingers through her hair, gave it a little shake, and strolled out, looking like she didn’t have a care in the world.
She bumped into a couple of guys in black on her way out. They gave her a once–over and kept moving, clearly not impressed.
After turning the comer, Quiana pulled her hat back on, a grin tugging at her lips. She slipped a master key card from her pocket, swiped it across a door with a number she liked, and let herself in.
The moment she closed the door, a blade pressed against her neck. A voice, distorted and cold, demanded, “Hand it over” The room was ploch black, and she couldn’t see a thing
Quiana raised an eyebrow, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “So, you’re here to rob me?”
The figure simply replied, “The item”
With a low laugh. Quiana retorted, “Sorry, can’t I’m kind of fond of it” As she spoke, she made her move, grabbing the wrist of the hand holding the dagger and twisting it back towards the attacker
There was a scuffle in the dark, and the door slammed shut. Voices outside shouted, “Intruder! Call security!”
The noise outside paused the confrontation inside. The figure in black, with a mechanical voice that held a chilling promise, said, “We’re not done
“Not on my watch,” Quiana shot back, her voice as sharp as the dagger she hurled toward the figure.
The figure dodged and, with a grunt, disappeared out the window,
On the vast deck, the night was silent–no splash to mark a fall. Quiana’s eyes flashed with resolve as she vaulted over the edge, following the trail of the vanished stranger.
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Chapter 35
The figure had slipped away, leaving no trace. Quiana found a camera blind spot and pulled off her mask.
“Who’s on top” Filith asked, getting to the chase,
“Nobody, Quiana replied. “It’s a draw”
Edith sounded shocked, “Who can stand toe–to–toe with you**
With a wicked grin, Quiana retorted, “Next time, I won’t be so merciful”
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