Chapter 7 - IN THE LION'S DEN
While Ricardo engaged Vale in a tense, thinly veiled conversation about loyalty and consequences, I slipped away toward the hotel's private executive suites. Ricardo had managed to clone Vale’s keycard during a handshake.
My hands shook as I let myself into the dark, luxurious suite. I booted up Vale's laptop, plugging in the decryption drive Jax had provided. The progress bar crawled agonizingly slow.
Suddenly, the door clicked open.
Kenji Sato stepped into the room, drawing a suppressed pistol from his jacket. "Vale thought the boss might try something. But sending the nanny? That's insulting."
I backed away from the desk, my heart in my throat. "The download is already finished," I lied smoothly, praying my voice wouldn't crack. "If I don't walk out of here in two minutes, Jax sends the files to the FBI."
Kenji laughed, raising the gun. "I think I'll take my chances."
May you like
Before he could pull the trigger, the heavy oak door shattered inward. Ricardo moved with a brutal, terrifying speed, disarming Kenji and driving him to the floor in a flurry of precise, devastating strikes. Ricardo pulled me against his chest, his breathing ragged. "Are you hurt?" he demanded, scanning my face.
"No," I gasped. "I have the files. We have everything."
