Carmen accepted the blow.
“Yes.”
A heavy crash echoed above.
Thomas’s men were forcing open a security gate.
Marcus turned.
“We need another exit.”
The vault manager pointed toward an emergency service corridor.
We moved.
Carmen came with us.
Alexander did not trust her.
Neither did I.
But she knew the building.
We descended through two maintenance levels until we reached an underground loading area.
Thomas was already there.
He stood beside a black SUV with four men.
No masks.
No secrecy.
He believed he had won.
“Caroline.”
His smile was almost friendly.
“Bring me the case.”
Alexander stepped forward.
Thomas laughed.
“Still playing hero, Alex?”
“You never knew me well enough to call me that.”
“I knew your father.”
“That is not an achievement.”
Thomas’s smile vanished.
He looked at Carmen.
“Elena.”
She did not move.
“Bring me the archive.”
“No.”
Thomas blinked.
For twenty years, Carmen had survived by aligning herself with stronger predators.
