Brenna stood slowly, gun raised. Harlan moved beside Colt, weapon up, aimed at Gary’s head. No one spoke. One twitch of that thumb, and it was over.
Naomi shrieked, the sound sharp and raw. “He’s the killer!” She pointed at Gary, her voice cracking under the weight of rage. “You killed Jared. You murdered him.”
Gary didn’t flinch. Didn’t deny it.
“It was necessary,” he said, calm as ice. “Just like killing his uncle. He’s the one I paid to build all this.”
Colt felt a flicker of shock but kept his aim steady.
Gary looked at Naomi. “Jared got too close. Started digging where he shouldn’t have. He didn’t know how to shut up.”
Naomi broke into sobs again, dropping to her knees.
Gary looked down at the detonator in his hand and pressed something. The timer stopped. Silence stretched.
“I’ll speak my piece,” Gary said. “Then you all die.”
He took a step toward the door.
Noah didn’t move. Brenna’s gun stayed up. Colt tracked Gary’s every motion.
Gary kept talking. “I gave years to that team. Risked my life. Got nothing in return. Just orders and lies. Always in the shadows, always disposable.”
He took another step.
“I watched while the rest of you got your glory, your second chances. And I got left behind.”
Colt’s jaw tightened. “So you turned on all of us?”
Gary’s eyes burned. “No. Iwoke up.I stopped pretending Strike Force was anything but a machine that eats its own.”
He kept inching toward the door.
Toward his escape.
Toward the kill.
Colt watched Gary inch closer to the door, every nerve stretched to the breaking point. If Gary made it through that doorway, it was over. He’d flip the switch and kill them all. They were out of time.
Colt leaned toward Brenna, voice low. “Shoot him in the knee.”
Her eyes snapped to his.
“It’s a risk,” Colt said. “Everything is.”
Behind them, Harlan’s grip loosened on Naomi. She yanked free and bolted toward the door, sobbing, stumbling.
Gary didn’t even glance at her. He was too focused on the detonator.
Colt saw the moment Brenna raised her weapon. One breath. One heartbeat. The shot cracked loud.
Gary screamed, dropping to one knee.
Colt didn’t wait. He threw his gun aside and launched forward. His shoulder slammed into Gary’s chest, driving him back into the wall. Colt grabbed for his hand, the one holding the detonator.
Gary fought hard, teeth clenched, rage burning in his face.
Harlan dove in next, stomping on Gary’s free hand with a brutal snap of bone. Gary howled but didn’t stop fighting.
