Page 41

W ith tears in my eyes, I remain as still as I possibly can, my back pressed up against a server tower. The heat at my back is nothing compared to the fire in my veins. How did this go so wrong? How did we end up here? This shouldn’t be happening. God, why is this happening?

The flash drive in my hand feels heavy as lead as I slip it into the pocket of my jeans as quietly as I can.

It’s all I have left. The only proof I have that my best friend was murdered in cold blood.

All because he’d stumbled onto a hole in Web Safe’s security.

He was just doing his job, and now—he paid for it with his life.

I try to keep my breathing steady, but with the adrenaline pulsing through my system, it’s nearly impossible.

There’s muttering in the background, likely the security team planning their next move.

Why they haven’t just come in here already, I can’t be sure.

It’s not like I’m much of a fight. Not compared to their training.

With a deep breath, I slide down the server tower then set my weapon down beside me.

My arm might as well be on fire with the pain shooting through my nervous system.

I reach over and gently tug the sleeve of my shirt to the side to check the bullet hole.

It’s deep, but not deadly—I don’t think.

Blood saturates my fingertips when I pull them away.

For the span of a few heartbeats, I close my eyes. I will not die here. His death will not be in vain.

But how am I supposed to survive? It’s not like I can shoot my way out. When things get overwhelming, take them one step at a time. My mom’s words echo through my mind.

One step at a time.

I can do that.

First step—stop the bleeding. Using my good arm, I slip the bandanna off of my hair. I put one corner in between my teeth then wrap it around my arm and tie it. I choke on a whimper as pain shoots through my arm. Step one, check.

Now, step two—get out of here alive so I can take what I have to the authorities.

With my injured arm wrapped, I retrieve my weapon again and glance to my right.

Ramiro’s body is lying still in a pool of blood.

His eyes are closed, and if it weren’t for the blood saturating the gray t-shirt he’d worn the last time we did trivia night, I might have thought he was merely sleeping.

The bloodstained truth is staring me in the face though: He’s gone. My best friend is dead, and there’s nothing I can do about it if I join him.

Grief constricts my throat, making it nearly impossible to breathe.

It all happened so fast.

Zero to a million in less than three heartbeats.

“I know you’re in here, Alice!” Darren Wade, a member of the security team, calls for me.

He’s taunting me—something he’s enjoyed doing since I started work here and turned him down.

Though, until now, a gun was never involved.

“There’s no way out. Give up, and I promise to give you a chance to fight back. ”

I take a deep, steadying breath. This is hardly the first fight I’ve been in, but it’s definitely the highest stakes.

Even more than life or death.

Because the secrets they’re trying to steal could burn the world to the ground. And I’m now the only person who knows about it.

My boots crunch on broken glass scattered throughout the server room.

“Come on, Alice, you’re a lost cause.” He’s close.

I scan the area in front of me. The only door is behind me, which would mean having to engage directly with him.

Given I only have two bullets left, while he has at least nine thanks to the double stack magazine in his .

45, it’s suicide to try and shoot my way out.

Especially since I give it about two minutes before the rest of his team descends on this room like wolves.

Okay, Alice. Think. Think.

The far wall is made entirely of heavily tinted glass that I don’t believe is bullet proof. Now, I could be wrong, but if I am, then I’m dead anyway. There’s no chance I’m getting out of this alive unless I’m granted a miracle.

God, please give me a miracle.

I’m two stories up, but the front of the building has a canopy over the entrance, and if I can jump out at the right angle, then I might be able to hit it to break my fall.

Maybe .

I glance over at Ramiro again, and anger replaces my grief.

They gunned him down, and all he’d been doing was trying to find the truth.

They won’t do the same to me.

Lord, be with me. Guide my steps and let me survive this. Please, Lord. I don’t want to die. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Tears stream down my cheeks, but I face the wall across from me and take a deep breath.

A sense of calm washes over me. Understanding that even if I die here today, it’s not the end. So, with my heart hammering against my ribs and my entire body aching, I raise my weapon—and start running.

Bullets whiz past me the moment I’m no longer shielded by the tower, but I do my best to shove the fear aside and keep running rather than pausing to seek refuge behind another tower.

One foot after the other, I run. And as soon as I’m close enough— bang, bang .

The glass cracks, but it doesn’t completely shatter. Here goes nothing. I raise my uninjured arm to cover my face then slam into the glass. Shards slice my arms and cheek, but it gives beneath the force of my body, and I plummet.

All the way down.