Page 88 of Taken

More footsteps thunder down the corridor. I brace for reinforcements, for failure.

Instead, Hargen Cole rounds the corner, eyes blazing with power. His left arm is strapped, but he’s moving with speed.

He barrels into a guard with his right shoulder, using the element of surprise to take the man down. I seize the opportunity and put a bullet in the remaining guard, who’d spun around at the distraction. He flies backward, skull cracking against concrete with sickening finality. Blood pools beneath him as silence falls over the corridor.

“Cole.” I keep my weapon raised, uncertain where his loyalties truly lie. “Didn’t expect to see you.”

“Obviously.” He steps over a fallen guard, his eyes fixed on Lila. “You weren’t planning to say goodbye?”

Lila’s face softens. “I thought you were in medical.”

“I was.” Hargen’s jaw tightens. “Until security alerts started blaring about an emergency gathering. Figured I’d get here and check on you first. Looks like I made the right move.”

“What happened to you?” I glance at his shoulder.

“Long story. I’ll live.” He grimaces. “At least long enough to help you out of here.”

I scan the corridor, calculating our dwindling timeline. “We need to move. Now. My team’s waiting, and we have maybe five minutes before Creed realizes what’s happening.”

Hargen nods, helping Lila to her feet. Her legs wobble, but determination hardens her features. Blood trickles from her nose, but otherwise, she’s unharmed.

“Northeast maintenance exit,” I explain, leading them forward. “Three levels up, past the auxiliary generator room.”

We move swiftly through empty corridors, the facility’s attention diverted to Creed’s assembly. Lila leans heavily on Hargen but keeps pace. Each intersection requires careful checking. The automated security systems remain active despite reduced personnel.

At the stairwell, I pause to check my weapon and comms. “Extraction team, standby. Package secure, moving to rendezvous. Two minutes.”

Static crackles back. Bad sign.

“Jammer’s activated,” Hargen explains. “Standard protocol during assemblies.”

“Fuck.” I holster my weapon, turning to them both. “We’ll have to move blind. Stay close.”

We ascend quickly, Lila’s breathing growing labored with each step. The maintenance exit lies just ahead. Our gateway to freedom.

I push the door open, checking the corridor beyond. “Clear. Let’s—”

“Wait!” Lila’s voice cuts through the silence, her hand gripping my arm with surprising strength.

I freeze, scanning for threats. “What is it?”

“The Shard.” Her eyes burn with intensity. “We can’t leave without it.”

Chapter 24

Lila

“The Shard?” Allard’s—no,Talon’sface hardens, eyes darting down the corridor. “Are you out of your mind?”

“As long as they have it, they’ll never stop hunting Elena.” My voice scrapes against my throat. “They’ll use it to find her, to control any dragon they can reach.”

“We don’t have time—”

“Make time.” I straighten my spine, ignoring the tremor in my limbs, the sweat beading along my hairline. Prison hasn’t broken me; I’ll be damned if fear will now. “I won’t leave that thing in their hands.”

Hargen’s eyes meet mine. Something passes between us—understanding born from years together.

“I know where they keep it,” he says. “East wing, sublevel storage. Creed’s private vault.”

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