Chapter 25 - August Hale’s Young FaceVictor caught Celeste before she struck the floor.
She was breathing.
A small device beneath the scar on her throat blinked red.
Mara tore it free.
“Neural suppressor.”
August walked toward the registry console.
Marcus ordered him to stop.
August smiled.
“You are still protecting a family that purchased your loyalty.”
Marcus fired.
The bullet struck August’s shoulder.
No blood appeared.
Instead, a synthetic layer split beneath his shirt.
Adrian stared.
“That is not August.”
The man pulled away part of his face.
A younger man stood beneath the prosthetic mask.
Mara recognized him.
“Daniel Wren.”
Elias’s son.
Daniel removed the rest of the disguise.
“August learned that a dead chairman inspires greater obedience than a living one.”
“Where is he?” Victor asked.
“Everywhere his name is believed.”
Daniel entered a code into the console.
The registry began copying itself.
Victor lunged at him.
They struck the floor together.
Marcus kicked the transfer device away.
Daniel reached for a hidden blade, but Adrian pinned his wrist.
Celeste woke and grabbed Victor’s sleeve.
She pointed toward the screen.
A second transfer had already begun.
DESTINATION: HALE FOUNDATION EMERGENCY SERVER.
Daniel laughed.
“You thought the hidden chairman wanted Ethan. He wanted Ethan to activate the registry.”
“Why?”
“So every Orchard identity would be gathered in one place.”
The transfer reached one hundred percent.
A message appeared.
REGISTRY SUCCESSFULLY EXPORTED.
Then another.
REMOTE ACCESS GRANTED.
Daniel stopped laughing.
“That is not our command.”
Celeste slowly stood.
She typed a sentence.
I CHANGED THE DESTINATION.
Across the screen appeared the seal of an international investigative court.
The complete registry had not gone to August.
It had gone to the authorities.
Sirens approached outside.
Daniel looked at Celeste.
“You exposed thousands of innocent people.”
May you like
She typed again.
I GAVE THEM THEIR NAMES BACK.
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