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Kat searched Eldridge’s eyes, throat tight, willing her to show something—remorse, hope.Anything. But there was only fire and ruin.

Despite everything Eldridge had put her through, she still wanted a different ending. But the one that mattered was standing beside her.

Let her go. She’s made her choice.

“I’m sorry,” she said softly.

Eldridge didn’t answer. Didn’t even look at her. Her mouth was pinched, her eyes shut on the world.

Leo’s hand wrapped around Kat’s arm. His grip wasn’t just urgency. It was an anchor. “We move.Now.”

She followed him with heavy steps into the corridor.

A familiar English accent blared through the facility’s speakers. “This building will self-destruct in T minus six minutes.” The voice cut out, and an alarm shrieked to life.

Leo’s mouth twitched as he glanced over his shoulder. “Fox.”

Doors exploded open along the hall. Researchers spilled out, white coats flaring like panic flags. Leo’s grip on her hand steered her through the human tide.

He kicked open every door they passed, giving each room a rapid sweep. No civilians left behind to die in the coming explosion.

A middle-aged woman in a lab coat stumbled, her ankle folding beneath her. Kat caught her arm, hauling her upright. “Hurry,” Kat urged, pressing between the woman’s shoulder blades so the researcher re-joined the fleeing mass, heady with the sharp stink of fear. Lights above them flickered faster as if connected to Fox’s countdown.

Ahead, the corridor split and the crowd surged right.

Screams erupted from the front and people scattered like startled birds, revealing a lone figure blocking their path.

Kat’s pulse skyrocketed.

One of the guards they’d restrained earlier stood twenty feet away. His stance was wide, service weapon up. Young, blood streaking his wrists where the zip-ties had cut.

The rookie she’d taken down with a shoulder throw.

“Stop!” He shouted, voice shaking. “Drop your weapons!”

His earpiece dangled uselessly over his shoulder, wire frayed—severed during the earlier fight. No comms. No backup. Just him.

Shit.

She twisted her wrist to check her watch. Five minutes. Not enough.

She raised her hands slowly, meeting his wild eyes. “We don’t have time?—”

“On the ground!” Safety clicked off. His hands trembled, the muzzle bobbing. Fear warred with duty on his face.

Kat kneeled, set her Glock down, her shirt clinging damp to her back. Leo followed suit.

“Cuffs,” the rookie barked and flung cuffs at her feet. “Lock yourselves together. Now. One wrist each.”

He wasn’t thinking. He was drowning. Protocol was all he had left.

The last of the stragglers sprinted past without a single backward glance.

A chill crawled down her back, her body already bracing for the blast.

She raised open palms. “Listen, we’ve got less than five minutes before?—”

“Do it!” His hands shook violently but his finger remained on the trigger.