Jack’s hands flew to his holster, inside his leather jacket, retrieving his handgun and angling it up at Beckman. “I should've known,” Jack growled. “It was all so obvious. The coincidences. Everything aligning so perfectly in the grand scheme of things. Even the missions themselves. How long have you been planning this? How long have we been little pawns in your scheme?”

  I stood, frozen, taking in the events that confused and ate away at me. I couldn't believe what Jack was saying! Beckman had helped us lead through all of this. He'd guided us against Exodus, and helping my Father. Suddenly, a cold realization crept through my sense, as balmy sweat ran down my temples.

  “Oh,” Beckman snickered, loud and obnoxiously. “This was set in motion long before you arrived, and will continue long after you’re gone.”

  “No, we’re taking you in,” Jack shot back, a guttural tone to his voice.

  “We’re?” Beckman repeated with a menacing arch of his brow, an expecting arch.

  CLICK.

  A handgun raised into our vision, as Elliott clocked the weapon of his own, that was now pointed upwards at Jack. Elliott was shaky at first, his weapon trembling as he firmed his other hand around it to steady himself.

  “What?” I babbled in confusion, bumbling over my words as I tried to grasp endlessly for the,. “What are you doing?”

  “I certainly didn’t intend for you to get all caught up in this, Miss Hart. You were just supposed to—“

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  “No, no,” Beckman said, “no need for further discussion. This is as far as it goes. Put the weapon down, Jack. This is over.”

  “It’s over when I put a bullet in your head,” Jack hissed.

  Beckman sighed and shifted his head to look at Elliott, before directing the man with his eyes, in my direction.

  Suddenly, Elliott shifted his weapon to face me.

  “Wait,” I started up. “You don’t have to do any of this. You can do the right thing.”

  Elliott breathed out quietly.

  “Oh sweetie,” Patty chimed in, “we’re all trying to do the right thing. That’s why we’re here.”

  “In what way is taking over a terrorist organization the right thing?” I scoffed.

  “To dismantle it from the inside, of course,” she affirmed.

  “Is that what he’s telling you?” Jack cut in, holding his weapon up at Beckman still. “How much is he paying you, huh?”

  Patty looked down in shame. “We all have families to feed. It solves a lot of problems.”

  “And you’re willing to betray your own like that?” I added. “Have the sins of my Father meant nothing to anyone?!”

  “I’m sorry, sweetie.” She stepped back, demure, and disappointed, seemingly in herself.

  “Well,” Beckman said,” checking his fancy wrist watch and stepping back, turning to leave. “Other solutions have arisen as...options become available.” He pressed a side button on his watched and rounded the opposite way.

  “Don’t you move!” Jack shouted.

  Crowd noise and hollering sounded from outside, screams, drawing our attention. Gunfire popped off. “Sounds like Natalya has met Angus,” Beckman said, continuing on to the stairs.

  “Don’t move, I said!” Jack gritted his teeth.

  “Perhaps,” Beckman stalled for a moment longer. “You should not take your own advice. You’re on the clock now. This will be rather enjoyable actually. I love a good hunt.”

  I looked on, confused, my brow raising.

  BANG! BANG!

  Two long range bullets fired off, from a distance. Elliott and Patty tumbled to the ground in a mist of red.

  I yelped, my voice stuck in my throat as I stepped back into Jack.

  Beckman’s voice echoed from down the stairwell.

  “You’re fugitives now.”