Page 45 of Oath

“I don’t know,” I said. “He ran dark.”

CRACK.

This one stole my breath. My lungs locked up. My body bucked.

“You were responsible for the asset. The data was onboard. Prototype intelligence mapping. Yourteamstole it. And you let him vanish.”

“He wasn’t supposed to come back,” I gritted out. “He volunteered for the ghost run. He knew what that meant.”

CRACK.

I screamed this time. Couldn’t help it. My body betrayed me, torn between agony and defiance.

Silence again.

Water kept pouring.

“You knew the contingency plan,” the voice went on, stepping closer. I could almost make out the outline now—broad-shouldered, authoritative. Not one of the suits. Someone higher. Commanding. “You had eyes on Voodoo’s fallback. We know he communicated with you post-mission.”

“I burned the comms,” I said, panting. “No signal. No trace. That was the plan. We covered our tracks.”

“And yet,” the voice said coolly, “you were the last person to speak with him. Youknew.So where is the drive?”

CRACK.

Left arm. Right through the shoulder. Fire exploded up my neck, and my jaw snapped shut so fast I bit my tongue.

“I don’t know,” I growled through blood. “Even if I did… I wouldn’t give it toyou.”

Silence again.

The man stepped closer. I felt his presence now. A pressure in the air. This wasn’t one of the suits. He didn’t move like them. Didn'tfeellike them. This one was military.

It was about fucking time.

He leaned close.

“You’re not dying here, Bones. You’ll wish you did, but you won’t. Not until we have what we came for. And wewillget it.”

CRACK.

My legs gave out. Only the ropes kept me dangling.

“You should start thinking about how much pain it’s worth.”

My breath was ragged. Broken. But I still smiled.

Then I spit the blood into his face.

AnotherCRACK.

The world shattered into white noise again.

Chapter

Thirteen

ALPHABET