Page 54

"I think we all do," Axl interjects, moving to stand beside me. "Especially since you've apparently been holding out."

Onyx takes a step forward. "Give her the documents. Now."

"Or what?" Evan challenges, not backing down. "You'll beat them out of me? Good luck with that."

"Stop it," I snap, stepping between them. "Fighting won't solve anything."

I turn to Evan. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? Do you understand what this means? How many lives could have been saved if you'd shared this information from the beginning?"

Something flickers across his face, regret, perhaps, or shame. It's gone so quickly, I might have imagined it.

"I had my reasons," he says.

"They better be fucking good ones," Onyx snarls.

Evan ignores him, focusing solely on me. "I'll give you everything. But first, we need to talk. Privately."

"No way," Axl says immediately. "Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of all of us."

"This isn't up for debate," Evan replies coldly.

"Like hell it isn't," Leo steps forward. "You don't get to make the rules anymore, Blackthorn."

I raise my hand, silencing them. "I'll talk to him."

"Dahlia," Onyx warns.

"It's fine," I assure him, though I'm not entirely convinced myself. "If this gets us the information we need, it's worth it."

Evan gestures toward his office down the hall. "After you."

I feel the heated gazes of all four men on my back. As I walk towards his office. As soon as we enter his office, Evan closes the door and locks it.

"That was unnecessary," I say, nodding toward the lock.

"Was it?" He moves to his desk, unlocking a drawer with a key from his pocket. "Those three would break down the door at the first raised voice."

"Can you blame them? You just admitted to withholding crucial information that could save countless lives."

He pulls out a thick file folder and places it on the desk between us. "It's not that simple."

"Then explain it to me," I demand, eyeing the folder but not touching it yet. "Make me understand why you would keep this from me… I got a text that someone was lying to me. I can't believe that was you."

Evan sighs, running a hand through his hair. For the first time since I've known him, he looks uncertain.

Chapter 15 - Evan

"The virus was created by Blackthorn Biotech,"

"What?!" Dahlia stares at me, her face draining of color. "Say that again."

I swallow hard, forcing myself to meet her eyes. "The Crimson Plague was created in Blackthorn Biotech labs. By my company and under my supervision."

She shakes her head slowly, like she's trying to reject the very idea. "No. That's not possible."

I push the folder toward her. "It's all there. It contains every test, and every formula."

Her hands tremble as she opens the folder. She flips through pages of research notes, chemical formulas, and test results.