Page 46 of Omega Scarred

As we drive through the heavily guarded gates of the Winslow compound, I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. We've made it this far, but there's still a long way to go.

Jade sits quietly in the backseat, her eyes darting around as if taking in every detail of the place she used to call home. I can't help but wonder what she's thinking, what emotions are running through her mind.

As we approach the main building, I pull the car up to the entrance and turn off the engine. Rafe and Hawk jump out of the car, their guns at the ready, and I turn to face Jade.

"Remember," I say, trying to hide the fear in my voice. "Stay close to me, don't say anything unless you absolutely have to, and most importantly, don't do anything reckless."

Jade nods, her eyes determined. "I know what to do," she says,

her voice low and steady. "I'm ready."

I nod, knowing that she's right. She's lived here, she knows this place better than any of us. But still, the thought of her getting hurt because of our plan makes my stomach churn.

We step out of the car and make our way towards the entrance. The guards eye us suspiciously as we approach, but I hold up the identification badge we have created, and after a moment of hesitation, they let us in.

We make our way through the halls of the Winslow compound, our footsteps echoing through the quiet corridors. I can feel the tension building with every passing moment, knowing that any misstep could ruin everything.

As we approach the vault room, I take a deep breath and try to calm my nerves. This is it. The moment of truth.

"Jade," I murmur. "You're up."

She glances around the hall, and I'm shocked to find that there are no guards around. I'm confident there are cameras, but I hold up the device I brought to scramble them and I shut them off--just for a few seconds while we get in. Jade steps up to the door and opens her eyes, and a full body scan registers her as part of the Winslow family.

And amazingly, even though it shouldn't really work...the door opens.

We step inside the vault room, and I can barely contain my excitement. This is it. We're going to get everything we need to take down the ACB...or at least to start the process of revealing their corruption the public, piece by piece.

Jade moves towards the main computer console, her hands deftly sliding over the keyboard. "What are you doing?" I ask.

She glances at me. "I know the code," she says, then bites her lip. "He always uses my birthday."

It hurts to hear her say that--how the man who abused her andhurt her, who treated her as little more than thing, still uses her birthday as a passcode. But she's right; it gives her access.

Or at least...it seems like it does.

Until a giant screenful of Matthias Winslow's face appears in front of us.

Jade's eyes widen and she takes a step back, her breath sharp. Her father's face--looking just like her, but with sharper edges, wrinkles, and a receding hairline--sneers at her, chuckling.

"Hello, dear daughter," he says. "I see you've come home."

26

Jade

Heknewwewerecoming the whole time.

I don't know how it is that the ACB is always one step ahead of us--that they plan for this and wealwaysfall for it. I should have known my dad would know about our plans, but I somehow forgot.

He always knows though.

Memories of when I was trapped in this house come flooding back, and I stumble back--right into Hawk's chest. He grabs me by the elbows, his warm body a reminder that I'm safe even when I know we're not.

We're all screwed, if my dad knows we're here.

"This is a recording--so of course, I don'tknowthat you're even listening," my dad's sneering face says from the screen. "But regardless, the ACB guards in the compound we'll be coming to take you into custody soon. I knew you would join up with those damn rebels, and I knew you would come home eventually. I look forward to seeing you."

An alarm suddenly starts blaring, and shouts come down the hallway. I exchange a terrified look with the others, and Fallon looks at Rafe.

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