Claire forced herself to look at him. “Why?”
“Why?” He laughed, sounding amused. “You really don’t know? You’re the one who saw too much and lived when she shouldn’t have. He was obsessed with you, Claire. And when the police killed him...”
“You decided to finish what he started,” Claire said.
“I decided to make you pay.” Derek circled her slowly. “You took my cousin from me. The only family I had. He was brilliant, powerful. And you—a scared little girl—got him killed.”
She stepped closer to Vivi. “He got himself killed. He murdered Lily.”
“Lily was collateral damage.” Derek’s voice was cold. “She wasn’t the target. You were, Claire. You were always the point.”
Claire’s blood ran cold. “What?”
“Collin was huntingyouthat night,” Derek said. “Lily was just there, in the way. If she hadn’t been with you...” He shrugged. “But she was. She didn’t fight, so she died, and you lived. And that wasn’t right. Collin couldn’t fix it, so I will.”
Vivi made a sound behind the gag, struggling against the restraints.
“Oh, Dr. Montgomery wants to contribute.” Derek walked to Vivi, yanked the gag down. “Go ahead. Tell Claire how this is going to end.”
Vivi’s eyes met Claire’s. “It’s a trap. He knows the team is here. He?—”
Derek backhanded her. Vivi’s head snapped to the side.
“That’s enough.” He replaced the gag. Turned back to Claire. “She’s right, of course. I knew you wouldn’t come alone. I’m not stupid. Your precious Shadow Point Security is out there somewhere, thinking they’re going to save you.”
He pulled a device from his pocket. Small. Digital. A trigger. “But I’ve been planning this for a long time,” Derek continued. “And I always have a backup plan.”
Claire’s heart stopped. “What did you do?”
“The police station. Such a nice building. Shame about the gas leak.” Derek smiled. “Or what will look like a gas leak. Really, it’s C-4. Not much. Just enough to level the building and kill everyone inside.”
“You’re blowing up the police station?” Claire couldn’t breathe.
“In...” Derek checked his watch. “Five minutes. Unless you convince your team to stand down. To let this happen. You and me, Claire. The way it’s supposed to be.”
Through her earpiece—silent since she’d entered the cabin—she heard Wolf’s voice, tight with fury. “We heard him. Lynx, can you disarm remotely?”
“Negative,” Lynx’s voice. “He’s air-gapped it. We need physical access.”
“Then someone needs to get there,” Wolf ordered. “Mills—evacuate the station. Now.”
Derek was watching her face. “They’re scrambling now, aren’t they? I assume you’re wired. So predictable.”
He moved fast. Grabbed Claire’s arm, yanked her forward. His hand ripped open her windbreaker, tore at her shirt. His hands found the tactical vest. “Really? You thought I wouldn't check?” He ripped it off and threw it across the room, leaving her in her tank top only.
Claire fought back, sending a knee to his groin and an elbow to his face. Her training and instincts made her dangerous, but Derek was trained, too. He absorbed the hits and slammed her against the wall. Her ears rang.
He caressed her cheek, then he shoved Claire into a chair next to Vivi and zip-tied her hands behind her back.
“Now,” he said, sitting on the edge of the table, the knife in his hand. “Let me tell you about the night Lily died.”
Claire’s pulse hammered. “I was there.”
“Youwerethere, but you didn’t see everything.” Derek spun the knife. “Collin and I had been watching you for months. Young, pretty Claire Dawson. So trusting. So easy to track. We knew where you lived, where you went to school, who your friends were.”
“Lily,” Claire whispered.
“Yes, Lily Harper, your best friend. Also young and pretty. Also easy to grab when we found you two alone that night.” Derek leaned forward. “Collin wanted you. But I convinced him—take the friend first. Make Claire watch. Make her feel powerless.”
