Page 98 of Knight

“Move!” I bark, shoving Eva forward. “Unless you want to make friends with a firing squad, let’s go!”

“They’re sealing the building,” Victor says, grim but steady.

“Of course they are.” I check the tablet. “Because nothing sayssecurelike turning your facility into a fucking tomb.”

“Exit route compromised,” Bishop reports. “Main gate has been locked down. They’re deploying armed teams.”

“Moving to the secondary route.” I adjust the course. “Northwest corner, maintenance access. Rook, clear us a path.”

I never want to see a fucking maintenance tunnel again.

More gunfire erupts, closer this time. Boots pound against the concrete, their echoes bouncing wildly. It’s impossible to tell how far away they are.

“Three down.” Rook’s update is delivered in clipped words. “More incoming.”

The sharp, acrid scent of gunfire mingles with the sweat and adrenaline pounding through my veins. Time to find out if all our planning was enough, or if we've underestimated exactly what these people will do to keep their prisoners. Based on the approaching security response, I'm betting on the latter.

And I really fucking hate being right about shit like this.

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

Evangeline

"Left."Knight's command cuts through the chaos. "Stay against the wall."

My heart is pounding so hard it drowns out the updates crackling through the comms. Gunfire snaps in the distance, too close. Michael’s ragged breathing beside me sharpens my fear. Every step forward feels like it’s going to be our last.

Knight moves like this is routine for him, like sneaking through a facility under fire is just another day. His calm should reassure me, but it makes the knot in my chest twist tighter.

“Maintenance access ahead.” Knight doesn’t break stride as he checks something on his tablet. His voice is steady, giving me the impression that he’s already assessed every move we’ll need to survive.

“Clear for now,” Rook replies through comms. His calm tone carries a cold detachment that should scare me. “But they’re gathering by the main entrance. Getting organized.”

I glance at the older man, Victor, walking just ahead of me. He moves steadily, keeping pace with Knight. Michael, in contrast, leans heavily on me. His breaths are uneven, each step slower than the last. I shift under his weight, trying to give him as much support as I can, but I can feel his strength waning.

I don’t know if Victor is just better at hiding the toll this has taken or if he’s running on something else entirely—adrenaline, fear, pure willpower, maybe. Whatever it is, it keeps him moving while Michael looks like he’s running on fumes.

“Keep moving, Glitch.” Knight’s voice cuts through my spiraling thoughts. Weirdly, the nickname settles my nerves a little. “We don’t have time to think. We’ll figure it all out later.”

The maintenance door beside us yields to Knight’s override sequence, and he shoves it open. The scent of bleach and motor oil stings my nose as we cram into the tight space, cleaning supplies pressing into my back. Michael sags against me, his weight threatening to drag us both down.

“They’re sealing off sections,” Victor whispers. His tone is calm, unnervingly calm, but every word carries a warning.

“What did you get into, old man?” Knight’s voice is low.

Victor shakes his head, and stays quiet, while through the door's small window, beams from flashlights dance across the walls. Voices approach—security teams coordinating their search. My lungs are burning from holding my breath. The lights fade, the voices moving on. My chest heaves as I exhale, my arms aching from holding Michael up.

"Bishop." Knight's voice is barely audible. "Status?"

"Transport secured." Bishop replies. "Northwest access point still clear. For now."

Knight eases the door open, and we follow him into the hallway. It’s empty for now, but for how long? The silence makes my skin crawl. Every shadow could hide a threat. Every corner could reveal armed security. My grip tightens on Michael’s arm as I force him forward, practically dragging him along with me.

"Stairs." Knight guides us toward a fire exit. "Two floors up."

Michael's exhaustion shows in every step as we climb. His hand trembles where it grips the railing. I want to check him properly, make sure he’s okay, but there's no time.

"Multiple targets converging." Rook's warning carries urgency now. "Time to move."

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