Not panicked.
Not frozen.
Still.
Like she already understands what this means.
“On what charge?” I call out.
“Conspiracy. Data crimes. Interference with international investigations. You are to open the door immediately.”
Ronan exhales sharply in my ear. “It’s real. Warrants just went live across three jurisdictions.”
“They’re fast,” I mutter.
“They were ready,” he replies.
Yeah.
They didn’t just plan the hit.
They planned the aftermath.
I hear movement outside now.
Boots.
Positions being taken.
This isn’t a conversation.
This is containment.
Lark steps closer.
I turn immediately.
“No.”
The word comes out low.
Final.
“They’ll come in eventually,” she says quietly. “And if you resist, this becomes something else.”
“They’re not taking you.”
“They already are,” she replies. “Just with paper instead of guns.”
That lands harder than anything else.
Because she’s right.
Another knock.
Harder this time.
Time’s up.
