Roman bolted for the first limo, where Kara and Lev were already waiting. “Come on, pretty boy,” he called to Dmitri. “I’d like to live long enough to traumatize people with this story.”
Dmitri gave him a flat look but moved, climbing in beside them without a word.
I made one last sweep of the yard.
The tower burned in patches. Alarm lights pulsed on every side, like a wounded animal lit up from within. Bodies lay scattered at the top of the ramp.
“Go,” Dmitri snapped.
I dove into the limo with Viktor and Katya and slammed the door.
Both vehicles peeled away almost in unison, tires spitting gravel, engines snarling as the drivers took us down the narrow service road and then out onto a wider lane that hugged the outer fence.
Shots rang out behind us, pinging off reinforced panels. Neither car slowed.
I twisted to look out the rear window.
Revenant’s tower diminished into the increasing distance, smoke spilling from its side, the drone’s handiwork etched into its perfect face. The facility that once made me feel like a gnat under a magnifying glass now looked… mortal.
Broken.
I sank back against the leather seat, chest still tight, adrenaline still burning a hole through my composure.
For a long moment, none of us spoke.
The road outside blurred past—a long stretch of unlit asphalt carrying us away from the tower and away from Revenant.
Viktor dug a crumpled pack of cigarettes from his pocket with hands that weren’t quite steady. The tip flared orange as he lit one and dragged hard, exhaling smoke toward the ceiling like he could purge the night from his lungs.
Then Viktor leaned forward, putting one forearm on his knee as his eyes locked on Katya.
“Hey,” he said softly. “You did well back there.”
Katya looked up quickly, as if she hadn’t expected that. “What?”
“Yeah,” Viktor said. “I’m proud of you.”
Her breath caught.
I felt my heart twist in my chest, not jealousy exactly, just a feeling painfully close to that.
Because she had done well. Better than that. She’d been a damn force, dragging us through the vents, blowing out servers, and sending drones slashing through the night like avenging spirits. I wouldn’t have succeeded in the mission to rescue the others without her.
I leaned forward too, catching her gaze.
“Viktor’s right,” I said. “You were incredible.”
Her eyes flicked between us, uncertain for a moment. Vulnerable in a way she rarely allowed herself to be outside of the bedroom.
“I almost got myself shot,” she muttered.
“So did we,” I returned. “Difference is you kept going. You kept all of us moving.”
“That drone hit on the north ramp?” Viktor added. “I’ll be dreaming about that one.”
Katya tried to hide the smile curving her mouth, but it broke through anyway.
“You saved all our lives tonight,” I said quietly.
