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“Nonlethal if possible,” Atticus replied.“They’re hired security, not Mitchell’s inner circle.But if they escalate, respond accordingly.

“There.”He pointed to approaching headlights.“Alpha convoy.”

Reza accelerated, pulling ahead of the convoy before swerving into its path.The lead SUV braked hard, tires screaming against asphalt.

“Contact with Alpha convoy,” Atticus reported.“Initiating intercept.”

Security personnel emerged with weapons drawn.Atticus exited the Range Rover, his own weapon ready.

“Dynamis Security,” he called.“Stand down.We’re not here for you.”

The guards hesitated—just long enough for Reza to circle behind them.

“The cargo,” Atticus continued.“That’s all we want.”

For a heartbeat, compliance seemed possible.Then the rear SUV roared forward, ramming their vehicle.Atticus dove sideways as metal crushed against metal.

The night erupted in gunfire.

Sabrina dropped to the floor as bullets pinged off the armored exterior.Through the window, she watched Atticus move with lethal stealth, his return fire targeting extremities.One guard went down clutching his shoulder.

“Clear the transport,” Atticus ordered as Reza knocked another guard unconscious.

“Cargo secured,” Reza reported moments later.“Moving to check the containment unit.”

“Charlie Team has secured their transport,” Cal updated.“Negative on the bioweapon.It’s a decoy.”

Hope surged through Sabrina.Fifty-fifty odds now.

“Reaper,” Reza called, his voice tense.“You need to see this.”

Sabrina abandoned safety, moving toward the transport despite Atticus’s earlier order.Inside, a single containment unit sat empty, its seal broken—and a timer counting down from forty-seven seconds.

“Everyone back!”Atticus shouted, pulling Sabrina away.“It’s rigged!”

They’d barely cleared twenty feet when the device detonated with a muffled thump.A fine mist sprayed into the air, hanging like fog.

“Gas masks!”Atticus ordered, but the security personnel closest to the transport were already coughing violently, blood-tinged foam appearing at their mouths.

“It’s an aerosol sample,” Sabrina realized, already moving toward them before Atticus caught her arm.

“Protection first,” he insisted, thrusting a mask into her hands.

She secured it quickly, then ran and knelt beside the first guard, searching for a viable vein as his body convulsed.“It’s working faster than anticipated,” she muttered, administering the countermeasure.“The molecular structure must be refined.”

“Prophet’s been exposed,” Atticus reported, his voice tight.“Showing early symptoms.”

Sabrina worked methodically, treating both guards before turning to Reza, whose skin had paled unnaturally.

“How bad?”he asked, voice raspy.

“Lower dose than these two,” she said, injecting the countermeasure.“Better odds, but still serious.”

“All three convoys were decoys,” Cal suddenly reported.“But satellite just caught a fourth vehicle leaving through a maintenance entrance—smaller, unmarked, with refrigeration.Heading to Addison airfield.”

“The shell game had an extra shell,” Atticus said grimly.“Davis, status on evacuation?”

“Fifty percent complete,” came the response.“Need more time.”