Page 99 of Enigma

The distinctive crack of rifle fire echoed through the warehouse as windows exploded inward. Smoke canisters flew through the openings, filling the air with thick, gray clouds.

Jason burst from behind a container, gun drawn. “Drop your weapons!”

The warehouse exploded into action.

Elena spun toward Olive, her knife raised.

Guards reached for their guns.

Mitzi appeared from another angle, providing covering fire for Jason.

A third figure—Simon Long—moved toward the holding area where the trafficking victims cowered.

Simon? When had he connected with them?

It didn’t matter.

They needed all the backup they could get.

Olive swung her leg and knocked the knife out of Elena’s outstretched arm.

The weapon clattered to the floor.

But Olive had no time to feel relief.

Elena grabbed a gun from her waistband instead. She aimed the Glock directly at Olive’s chest. “I should have killed you in that bathroom.”

Time slowed as Elena’s finger tightened on the trigger.

Olive saw the muzzle flash, heard Jason shout her name, and watched in horror as he threw himself between her and the bullet.

The shot caught him in the shoulder, spinning him around as blood immediately soaked through his shirt. He hit the concrete floor hard.

“Jason!”

Trick appeared and tackled Elena. Someone must have let him out.

Feeling a moment of reprieve, Olive dropped to her knees beside Jason and studied his wound. The bullet had hit his shoulder—and appeared to have missed any vital organs or arteries.

But that could have turned out so much differently . . .

“Jason . . .” she murmured. “Can you hear me?”

He gasped, his eyes opening. At once, he became alert as he saw her. “Are you hurt?”

“No, thanks to you.” Tears she hadn’t expected burned her eyes. “You idiot, why did you?—”

He grimaced before saying, “Because I love you. And I wasn’t losing you again.”

“Oh, Jason . . . I love you too.” She wished she could relish this moment. But she heard the sounds of battle around her and knew she was on borrowed time. “Let’s pick up this conversation again later.”

Olive stood, fury blazing in her chest. But before she could move, Sarah appeared and grabbed her arm.

“You think you’ve won?” Sarah hissed. “You have no idea what you’ve done. This network spans continents. You’re nothing but a naive girl playing at being a hero.”

Olive jerked free, meeting her aunt’s eyes with steel in her gaze. “I’m nothing like you. I may use some of the same skills my parents taught me, but I use them to help people, not exploit them. That’s the difference between us—I have a conscience.”

“Your conscience will get you killed.”