“Pressure hull breach. We’ve got minutes before she starts going under,” Blake said.
“We can’t stay,” Vivian said.
“No,” he agreed. “But we can make sure they don’t drag us out in chains.”
He moved to the console. “Engine room’s primed. One overload and this whole operation loses its dock.”
Her hand shot out, grabbing his arm. “Blake, if Maddox is playing both sides, he could still turn this. Let me try.”
A voice cut her off. Closer this time. Not through speakers.
“Vivian!”
She turned. Maddox stood partway up the gangway, rain sluicing off his face, weapon hanging loose at his side.
“Don’t do this,” he yelled.
Blake stepped in front of her, rifle raised. “Stay where you are.”
Maddox’s gaze flicked to Blake, then back to her. “If you trust me, tell him to lower that gun!”
“Trust you?” Blake snapped. “You brought an army to finish the job.”
“I didn’t bring them. I steered them here. You think I control this?” Maddox flung an arm toward the trucks, the guns, the men. “I’m barely holding them off.”
Lightning flared, throwing his face into stark relief—drawn, exhausted, eyes raw.
“You think this is about you?” Maddox called. “It’s not. You’re convenient. They need someone to blame for the leak. Someone off the books. Former field asset, dirty history. You fit the headline.”
“They want Blake,” Vivian said, the pieces snapping together.
“They want a scapegoat,” Maddox corrected. “You’re leverage. They won’t kill you outright. They can’t. Too valuable. But if they get you both? They don’t have to choose.”
Blake’s jaw locked. “So your solution is what? Walk me down in cuffs and call it a win?”
“I can get her out,” Maddox said, voice fraying. “If they think you took her hostage and I recovered her, I can write you out of the final report. But I can’t do that if you’re still standing at her side with a gun in your hand.”
Vivian’s stomach turned. “You’re asking him to sacrifice himself so you can play hero?”
“I’m asking him to buy you a life,” Maddox said, eyes on her now. “It’s the only way this ends with you breathing.”
Blake looked at her. The fight in his gaze shifted—hardening into something quieter. Resigned.
“If he’s telling the truth,” Blake said, “this gives you a shot.”
She shook her head. “No. Maddox isn’t your ghost to carry. He’s mine.”
Blake’s mouth tilted, a faint, crooked almost-smile. “You’re better at long games than I am.”
Lightning cracked overhead. Before she could stop him, Blake lowered the rifle. Slowly. The echo of the safety clicking off duty sounded louder than the storm.
“Blake—don’t,” she choked.
He let the rifle drop. It hit the deck with a dull, final thud.
He raised his hands, never looking away from her. “Guess this is where I lean into my reputation.”
Maddox exhaled, shoulders sagging. “They’ll take you alive,” he promised. “I can work with that.”
