Chapter 16
Two hours later, the rain had stopped, leaving a clear blue sky over the Virginia estate.
Medical technicians tended to Marcus on the ambulance stretcher, wrapping a warm blanket around his shoulders.
Maya stood beside him, holding two paper cups of hot coffee from the mobile command center.
"You're crazy, you know that?" Marcus grinned weakly, taking a cup of coffee from her.
"Driving an armored SUV into a mansion is not normal behavior, Maya."
Maya let out a genuine, warm laugh, her shoulders finally relaxing after days of intense terror.
"It worked, didn't it?" Maya replied, looking over at her father being loaded into a federal transport van.
General Thomas Vance walked over to them, holding a leather folder containing official military clearance papers.
"The satellite defense network has been secured under my division's direct oversight," Thomas reported proudly.
"Your grandfather would be immensely proud of the courage you displayed today, Maya."
Maya looked at her uncle, offering a respectful nod of deep gratitude.
"What happens to the flash drive now?" Maya asked, touching the small silver device around her neck.
"It goes into a vault at the Pentagon where no corrupt billionaire can ever touch it again," Thomas promised.
May you like
Maya took a deep breath of the fresh afternoon air, feeling a profound sense of freedom fill her chest.
The long shadow of her father's tyranny was finally lifted from her life forever.
