Chapter 5 - THE TRAP SPRINGS
“You’re alive,” Nathan breathed, stepping back from the console.
“Surprise,” Elena said coldly, walking toward the terminal. “Did you really think you could use my architecture and I wouldn’t feel it? It’s like a fingerprint, Nathan. And yours is all over the crime scene.”
Nathan’s shock rapidly morphed into a cornered, animalistic desperation. He reached into his jacket, pulling out a small, suppressed firearm.
“I didn’t want to threaten your brother, Elena. Thorne made me do it,” Nathan stammered, the gun trembling in his grip. “But I can’t go to prison. Step away from the terminal. The transfer is at ninety percent.”
“Or what?” Elena challenged, not moving an inch. “You shoot me? In a room with biometric locks and titanium reinforced glass? You’d never get out.”
“I’ll take my chances,” Nathan snarled, raising the weapon.
“No, you won’t.”
The heavy steel doors slammed open. Julian stood there, unbothered by the gun, flanked by three armed federal agents.
“Drop it, Cole,” Julian commanded, his voice echoing with absolute authority.
Nathan looked at the agents, then at Elena, and finally at the terminal. The screen flashed TRANSFER FAILED - CORRUPTED DATA. Elena hadn't been trying to stop the download; she had poisoned it. She had just sent Thorne a massive digital virus.
Defeated, Nathan let the gun clatter to the floor. As the agents slammed him against the glass and slapped the cuffs on his wrists, Julian walked straight to Elena, his eyes searching her face.
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“Are you hurt?”
“Only my pride,” she smiled faintly. “He thought I’d let him steal the core data. I gave Thorne a Trojan horse instead.”
