Chapter 10 - THE BUILDING WITH NO EXITArmed contractors sealed the building.
Maya had no rifle.
No armor.
Only a concealed pistol and a radio.
Exactly the kind of situation Ghost 7 had trained for.
She counted exits.
Windows.
Reflections.
Blind corners.
Then she heard her own voice from months earlier.
Speed without awareness is efficient stupidity.
Marcus had written that sentence down.
Now Maya followed it.
She moved slowly.
Two guards passed.
She waited.
Disabled one.
Redirected another.
Outside, Morrison coordinated federal teams.
Daniel monitored communications.
Marcus ignored orders and entered through a service corridor.
Maya found him near the stairwell.
“What are you doing?”
“Thinking.”
“You're disobeying direct orders.”
“You taught me.”
“That is not what I taught you.”
“Terrible instructor.”
Despite everything, she almost laughed.
Together they reached Vale's private archive.
But Vale had vanished.
In his office, they discovered a live video feed.
Thomas Reeves appeared onscreen.
Sitting inside Maya's childhood home.
Maya's blood went cold.
Vale's voice came through a speaker.
“You wanted your father back.”
Maya didn't move.
“Let's determine how much you're willing to lose to keep him.”
Marcus whispered,
“It's a trap.”
Maya already knew.
Vale wanted her emotional.
Fast.
Predictable.
Exactly what she had taught Marcus not to become.
She turned away from the screen.
Marcus looked surprised.
“You're leaving him?”
“No.”
Maya studied the building schematics.
“I'm refusing to play the game Vale designed.”
She contacted her mother.
No answer.
Then Daniel.
“Where's Mom?”
A pause.
“At the training center.”
Maya froze.
Thomas wasn't at her childhood home.
The video was prerecorded.
Vale had expected panic.
May you like
Maya smiled.
For the first time, the hunter had made a mistake.
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