Page 140 of BounBound By Scars

I kept watching, hoping for a flicker. A glance. Some sign that it was still him beneath the steel.

“Failure to comply will be treated as an act of cyber-aggression against the United States government and its Department of Defense. In such a scenario, we will consider retaliatory measures—including exposure of Blackthorn’s operational data, personnel files, and international violations.”

Kabir didn’t even flinch saying all of it.

Zane’s fist slammed into the table.

“To ensure cooperation, a folder has been attached. It includes photos and locations of each Blackthorn member’s nextof kin, immediate family, and emergency contacts. These images are recent.”

I felt bile rise in my throat. On the monitor, a series of images began to auto-scroll—my sister Iris, Leora’s parents, Delara’s cousins. Even my parents.

Each and every one of our family members were on the screen with a target on their heads.

I couldn’t reconcile it. Couldn’t make sense of how the man who once held me like I was the center of his world… was now ready to burn ours down.

Zarek’s face didn’t change. But I saw the flicker in his eyes.

That internal detonation he always kept beneath the surface.

“You may also wish to inform your development team that Sentrix v5.4 is now obsolete. Crazon’s next iteration will be ready in thirty days and will render your efforts irrelevant. We’re no longer playing catch-up.”

Zane let out a roar and kicked the side of the desk so hard the monitor wobbled.

Kabir kept going.

“You have a choice. Step aside. Or be dismantled. This will be your only warning.”

The screen started to dim—but then, a final sentence.

“I hope, for your sake, that your systems are tighter than your loyalties. We wouldn’t want another… complication.”

The video ended with a sharp digital hiss.

I stared.

My heart pounded so loud I could barely hear the rustling around me. But that last line—

“Systems are tighter than your loyalties,” I whispered.

It snagged in my chest. Sharp. Deliberate.

No one else said anything.

“Zane,” I rasped. “Play that again.”

He turned, still seething. “Fuck no. That was a threat. You saw the files. You heard him.”

“No,” I said. “That line—he’s trying to tell us something.”

“He told us to back off or he’ll bury us,” Zane barked. “That’s all.”

My hands gripped the arms of the wheelchair. “He’s not rogue. He’s sending a hidden message.”

Zane stepped toward me. “He’s compromised, Amelia.”

“He’s not,” I whispered. “He’s warning us.”

Zane didn’t move.

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