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“I know what I need to say.” Petra’s jaw was set in firm determination. “To both the news staff and the people. I’m ready.”

So were we.

The room fell quiet for a moment before I spoke up. “We only have a few minutes until the social media blast goes out. Once it becomes known we’ve taken back control of the prime minister’s official and personal media accounts, it will cause chaos within Maivia’s and Shi’s camps. While they’re busy sorting that out, we’ll make our move on the television station. For us, that means we need to be inside the station no later than 6:40.”

“That’s in less than an hour,” Paul said. “And it’s a twenty-minute walk to the station.”

“Sixteen minutes, if we walk briskly,” Manny corrected him.

My feet hurt just thinking of it. Another hike ahead, but at least this was on mostly straight ground with no slippery ropes, cold streams, or muddy slopes.

“I suggest everyone gets their shoes on, because we’re leaving in staggered groups shortly,” Manny said. “Petra, Slash, and Lexi, you will need to keep the caps on and keep your gazes down the best you can for the walk to the station. Paul, once we’re all there, you and your men start the distraction outside. The rest of us will slip in. Once inside, we’ll lock it up from the inside to stop or slow down any police who may try to follow or enter before or after seven p.m.”

“Don’t forget to lock the other doors to the station,” Slash said. “The police might have the keys to unlock the chains. Manny, you stand guard inside the second door. If they try and enter, an alert will give us a few extra minutes.”

Manny nodded. “Copy that.”

“The rest of you will have to talk to the news staff and get Petra in front of the camera by seven,” Slash said. “Lexi and I have another card to play once we’re inside.”

To my surprise, no one challenged him or asked for details. At this point, they just accepted we knew what we were doing and went with it.

“Okay, everyone knows their roles,” Manny said one last time as we finished putting on our shoes and socks. Both of mine were somewhat dry, having baked in the patch of hot sun beneath the window. “From this point on, there’s no turning back.”

“No turning back,” Petra repeated firmly, pulling the cap’s brim low on her face.

I put on my cap as well and stood by the door, tightening my laptop bag securely across my body. The tension in the room was palpable.

Just then my watch beeped six o’clock, and the plan went into motion.

“It’s time,” I said, opening the door. “Let’s go change history.”

FORTY-ONE

Jiang Shi

Jiang Shi sat in the office, his posture rigid, eyes fixed on the chair where Slash had sat just hours previously, tied up and at his complete mercy. Now he was in the wind, freed by a woman who had waltzed into a secure compound and tased a guard.

Lexi Carmichael. He knew it had been her. She’d slipped in with delivery personnel and gotten Slash out with ease. It infuriated him so much he could hear the blood rush in his ears.

He’d been so enraged when he’d heard Slash had escaped that he had personally disciplined the guard who’d been on duty. He glanced down at his bruised knuckles and felt a flicker of satisfaction. Tased by a woman. Who trained these imbeciles, anyway?

He inhaled slowly, tried to temper his anger, but it didn’t work. He should have tortured Slash on the spot, found his woman, and made him confess what he was really doing here. Only, he’d thought he had time—glorious time—to do whatever he wanted once Slash was in China. But the American had slipped through his fingers once again, leaving him with nothing.

It infuriated him even more.

His anger still boiling, he glared at his laptop screen. The Cook Islands were small, the airport remained closed, and he’d tightened the ports. Slash and Lexi would not get off this island alive. It was only a matter of time before he found them and the prime minister. Still, he had to be cautious, calculate every mood, and anticipate every challenge. His opponents were good, but he was better.

The door to the office suddenly flew open with such force and surprise, it sent the parrot flapping and screeching about. Chen, his chief of staff in the Cook Islands, and in whose office he now sat, stood in the doorway, holding a printed email with a look of alarm in his eyes.

“Sir, you need to see this,” Chen said, voice strained with urgency. “Immediately.”

Shi’s gaze narrowed. “I’m busy. What is it?”

Chen crossed the room and put the paper on the desk in front of him. “It’s from Maivia. It just came through. He… I don’t know how else to say it. He’s resigning.”

Shi’s mouth dropped open. “He’swhat?”

“Resigning, sir,” Chen repeated.