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“One last fight for old time’s sake, eh?” Hudson tackled Zack to the ground, and a series of grunts followed.
“You’re not going to get away with this,” Zack snapped.
“We don’t have time to waste, son,” Callahan yelled.
“Shut up, Uncle Roger. I’ve got it.”
Naya gasped. She and Zack had gone to school with this kid. And the whole time, Hudson’s uncle had been in the background, hiding the truth. Now he’d trained up his own flesh and blood to follow his lead. To cover up what was really happening at Ethos.
Hudson stood up and wiped his hands. Zack went to get up, but he took one glance at Naya and stayed put. Blood dripped from his nose.
Naya couldn’t let Callahan and Hudson leave. Not without all the answers. “I thought your company helped people.”
“We do. Wehelpthe firehouses put out fires with our foam. And families stay safe with our fire extinguishers. Each time they buy our products, we make the big bucks. And I can’t lose out.”
“Youhelppeople at the expense of their health.” Naya narrowed her gaze. “Why not change the chemical formula?”
“None of you nosy reporters know when to stop asking questions.” Callahan gripped the door handle.
“If you’re going to kill us, why not let the truth go down with us?” Naya sucked in a breath to keep from shaking.
Callahan paused, and a sly grin formed. “If you must know. I can share the brilliance behind this mind.” He crossed his arms. Hudson moved to his uncle’s side, his frame blocking the doorway.
“It’s too expensive to change the ingredients. We had a profit margin goal to secure.”
“Even when the chemicals would harm the people you’re supposed to be helping?” Naya asked.
“There’s too much money on the line. One employee learned that the hard way and invested unnecessary time inspecting the chemical formula. And it cost him.”
“My dad.” Zack’s jaw twitched.
“Douglas couldn’t keep his hands out ofmybusiness. I bought out the company he used to work for. He forgot who his boss was.”
“You were his new boss?” Zack’s brow creased.
Roger grinned. “Securing that business deal, taking over ProEco Plant, and climbing the corporate ladder to CEO of Ethos was my shot at making it big in the industry. Such a shame that Douglas couldn’t see the payoff in the end. Instead, he tried to thwartmysuccess. And you thought you could do the same.” Roger pointed at Zack. “I should have killed you in that fire too.”
Naya gaped. How could anyone think such evil?
Her knees trembled.
Naya wanted to grab one of those paint cans and chuck it at the two men. But she couldn’t do anything with her hands tied. And in the wide-open room, any attempt to escape would be foiled. She hated being the victim.
Zack sat in a crouched position, like he too was debating what move to make.
They had to find a way out.
Zack’s dad and Powells had died because they’d gotten mixed up in this mess, and she couldn’t let their deaths be in vain.
Roger and Hudson would not win.
Evil could not win.
Naya tugged at her restraints. “Why don’t you?—”
“Enough,” Roger bellowed.
“You’re wasting our time here.” Hudson stepped into the hallway.