The barricade rushed toward us.
Mercer shouted something.
Then suddenly—
An explosion erupted behind the FBI vehicles.
Fire engulfed the street.
The tactical line broke instantly.
Matthew swerved hard through the chaos.
We shot beneath the bridge and disappeared into underground service tunnels running beneath Manhattan.
My ears rang violently.
Smoke filled the SUV.
“What just happened?” Rachel coughed.
Matthew’s voice sounded strained.
“Backup plan.”
Blood soaked through his shirt now.
Dark.
Spreading.
He’d been hit.
“Matthew…”
“It’s fine.”
It clearly wasn’t.
But he kept driving through dim tunnel systems until finally we reached an abandoned maintenance platform beneath the city.
There, hidden among old rail equipment and concrete shadows, waited three people.
One of them stepped forward.
And I recognized her instantly.
Vanessa.
Rachel stared.
“You have got to be kidding me.”
Vanessa looked exhausted.
Terrified.
And very pregnant.
My eyes widened.
“Oh my God.”
Matthew closed his eyes briefly.
“She’s eight months.”
The world tilted again.
Vanessa looked ashamed.
“I didn’t know where else to go.”
Rachel nearly exploded.
“This family tree is becoming a crime documentary.”
Despite everything, Matthew laughed weakly.
Then winced in pain.
Vanessa rushed forward.
“He’s bleeding badly.”
One of the strangers stepped closer.
Gray-haired.
Military posture.
“This conversation happens fast,” he said.
“Who are you?” I demanded.
“Former CIA.”
Rachel threw her hands up.
“Of course you are.”
The man ignored her.
“My team has been tracking Atlas for fifteen years.”
My head hurt.
“Why involve us?”
“Because Matthew finally stole enough evidence to expose them permanently.”
He nodded toward the flash drives.
“That information can collapse governments.”
Silence.
Then Matthew looked directly at me.
“This is where you decide.”
