Chapter 10 - THE BROTHER WHO NEVER DIEDThomas led them to an abandoned farmhouse in rural Virginia.
The building looked forgotten.
Inside, however, were computers, satellite equipment, weapons, and walls covered with photographs.
Emily found pictures of herself.
Hundreds of them.
School.
Birthdays.
Graduation.
Her wedding.
Robert's blood ran cold.
“He watched us.”
Thomas stepped out of the shadows.
He was older.
Thinner.
But unmistakably Robert's brother.
Robert stared at him.
“You let me mourn you.”
Thomas lowered his eyes.
“I had to.”
“You let me raise your daughter believing she was mine.”
“I knew you'd love her.”
Robert punched him.
Thomas fell against the table.
Emily cried out.
“Dad!”
Robert stopped.
Thomas wiped blood from his lip.
“You have every right.”
Robert breathed heavily.
“Who is behind Black River?”
Thomas looked at Emily.
“Meridian isn't the real organization.”
“What is?”
“Atlas.”
The name meant nothing to Emily.
Robert recognized it.
A classified intelligence designation.
Thomas explained.
Atlas had operated beyond traditional government oversight.
They recruited military officers, private contractors, politicians, and scientists.
Their goal was not money.
It was predictive control.
They wanted to identify threats before those threats existed.
Emily's genetic profile was the final missing component.
“But why her?”
Thomas answered:
“Because you're the only person who inherited both sides of the original research.”
Emily looked terrified.
“What happens if they get me?”
Thomas didn't answer.
Robert did.
“They'll use her.”
Thomas nodded.
Then the farmhouse lights went out.
Gunfire erupted outside.
Robert pushed Emily to the floor.
Marcus returned fire.
Thomas grabbed a hard drive.
“There's another entrance!”
They ran.
Outside, black SUVs surrounded the property.
Someone shouted through a loudspeaker.
“General Hayes!”
Robert recognized the voice.
Victor Shaw.
“Come out alone.”
Robert looked at Thomas.
Thomas whispered:
“He's not working for Atlas.”
Robert frowned.
“Then who?”
Thomas looked toward the darkness.
“Cole.”
A figure appeared behind Victor.
Adrian Cole.
May you like
Alive.
Smiling.
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