Novels by Starman

MAKING THE CHOICE ARIANot upward.Sideways.Revealing a hidden compartment.Inside rested a tiny brass key...And a folded strip of yellowed paper.No one spoke.I unfolded the paper.Only seven words had been written.The truth waits beneath the family chapel.Marcus looked up immediately."The chapel on the estate."Viktor nodded."I never knew.""Neither did I," Eleanor whispered.The hooded figure chuckled."Arthur always was three steps ahead."Adrian looked up sharply."You knew my grandfather well.""I did.""You worked with him.""I did.""You betrayed him."A long silence followed.Then the stranger answered."No.""I betrayed someone else."Before anyone could ask another question—A shrill beeping echoed through the station.Marcus looked toward Isaac's body.The remote.Its tiny red light had begun flashing.Sebastian's face drained of color."No one touched it."Marcus lunged toward it.The hooded figure didn't even try to stop him.Instead...The stranger slowly began

THE TRAITOR SPEAKSARIAMarcus slowly lowered his center of gravity, his eyes flicking between the remote and the stranger."What do you want?"The hooded figure looked directly at me."You.""I've never met you.""No.""But I've known about you since the day you were born."A chill crept down my spine.Behind me, my grandmother whispered, "Arthur..."Her voice trembled."He always feared this day."The figure gave a small nod."He was right to."Adrian stepped forward."No more games.""Take off the hood."The stranger chuckled."You've spent your whole life searching for answers.""You really think I'll give them away that easily?""I'll remove it for you."Adrian took another step.The pistol shifted toward him."You'll die before you reach me.""I've heard that before.""So have the men buried because they underestimated you."For the first time, I sensed genuine respect in the stranger's tone.Marcus leaned toward Viktor without taking his eyes off the hooded figure."Do you reco

123BLACKRIDGE ARIA My grandmother gasped."I know that handwriting.""So do I," Viktor said quietly.My fingers shook as I opened the envelope.Inside was a single sheet of paper.Only one sentence had been written.Trust no one who survived Blackridge.Below it...A signature.Not my grandfather's.Not my grandmother's.Someone else.I frowned."What is Blackridge?"The reaction around me was immediate.Marcus looked confused.Sebastian looked confused.But Viktor...And Eleanor...Both of them went completely still.Eleanor whispered one name."Oh, Arthur..."Viktor closed his eyes."He kept it from you.""What is Blackridge?" I repeated.This time, Viktor answered."It wasn't a place.""It was an operation."Thirty years ago.One that should never have happened....MARCUSI'd spent my career around classified operations.Military coups.Political extractions.Counterintelligence.The way Viktor said those words told me Blackridge wasn't ordinary.It was infamous.Isaac watched

122PRICE OF TRUTH ADRIAN His relaxed posture vanished.His jaw tightened.His breathing stopped.I couldn't see the picture clearly from where I stood.But Adrian could.Isaac watched him carefully."I finally found something that gets your attention."Adrian's voice became dangerously quiet."Where did you get that?""I think you already know.""No.""I want to hear you say it."Isaac smiled."It came from the person who sold your family."The station fell deathly silent.Viktor's eyes widened.Grandmother went pale.Marcus slowly looked toward Viktor...Then toward Eleanor...Because there was only one terrifying possibility left.The traitor wasn't dead.The traitor had been alive all along.And somewhere beyond the station, hidden in the shadows...The real mastermind was still watching.VIKTORThe photograph changed everything.I watched Adrian's face harden in a way I had never seen before.Not anger.Not grief.Recognition.Whoever was in that picture mattered more than the

121OF SHADOWS ADRIAN Two more bodies.Nineteen....A familiar voice echoed somewhere behind me."Aria!"Eleanor.Alive.Relief washed over me before I could stop it.For years I had imagined this moment differently.I had imagined accusing her.Demanding answers.Making her feel every lonely birthday.Every Christmas.Every nightmare.Instead...The moment I saw her...I saw only my mother.Older.Broken.Still carrying guilt that should never have belonged to her.Hatred had sustained me.Reality had weakened it.I wasn't sure whether that made me stronger...Or more vulnerable....A muzzle flash briefly illuminated the station.Just enough.I counted.Seven operatives advancing together.Using overlapping formations.Their commander wasn't panicking.Interesting.Very interesting.Someone competent remained in charge.A calm female voice cut through the darkness."Maintain formation.""He's hunting isolated targets.""Stay together."I frowned.A woman.Experienced.Patient.Sh

120THIRTY YEARS OFMARCUSThe temperature in the station seemed to drop.Viktor took one measured step forward."I wondered when you'd finally say it."Adrian's eyes burned with restrained fury."You were supposed to protect us.""I tried.""You failed.""I know.""No."Adrian shook his head."You didn't fail."His next words landed like a hammer."You betrayed us."Before anyone could react—A burst of automatic gunfire ripped through the station.Bullets struck the locomotive, showering sparks across the tracks."They're here!" Sebastian shouted.Black-clad operatives poured from both tunnel entrances.At least twenty.Far too many."Down!" I yelled.We scattered behind concrete pillars as gunfire erupted from every direction.Adrian didn't move.Instead, he slowly reached into his coat.One of the attackers shouted, "Target acquired!""Eliminate everyone!"Adrian sighed."I was hoping to finish the conversation first."He withdrew a small black device from his pocket.No larger th