Chapter 40: Maya Torres
215 Words
Chapter 40: Maya Torres
The meeting location was an abandoned shipyard near the coast.
Gray clouds hung overhead.
Cold wind swept across rusted containers and empty warehouses.
Serena arrived with Adrian, Rachel, and Victor despite Maya's request that she come alone.
Nobody trusted Phoenix anymore.
A woman stepped from behind a shipping container.
Dark hair.
Sharp eyes.
Confident posture.
Maya Torres.
She looked directly at Serena.
For several moments neither woman spoke.
Then Maya smiled faintly.
"I always knew you'd survive."
Serena crossed her arms.
"Everyone keeps saying that."
Maya laughed.
The sound carried genuine relief.
Then her expression grew serious.
"Marcus is moving faster than we expected."
Victor stepped forward.
"What happened?"
Maya pulled a flash drive from her pocket.
"This happened."
Inside were surveillance files stolen from Phoenix.
Images appeared on a laptop screen.
Marcus.
Several senior Phoenix leaders.
Military contractors.
Government officials.
The room became silent.
Phoenix's influence was larger than anyone imagined.
Then another image appeared.
Lily.
Recent photographs.
Security footage.
Tracking reports.
Serena felt her stomach tighten.
"They've been watching her."
Maya nodded.
"For years."
Adrian looked furious.
"Why?"
Maya's answer was immediate.
"Because Marcus always knew she was important."
Before anyone could ask another question, gunfire erupted nearby.
Everyone ducked.
Bullets struck metal containers.
Phoenix had found them.
Again.
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