Chapter One Hundred and Two — Seventeen“Seventeen.”The voice echoed off brick and metal like it had all the time in the world.Ariana stood in the open, palms raised, heart steady in a way that didn’t make sense.The searchlights pinned her in white.She could feel the grid latched onto her mind now — a cold thread pulling, measuring, confirming.Asset Zero located.“Sixteen.”Behind her, she heard Mason move.Not a step back.Forward.The sound of gravel shifting under his shoe was small, but in the silence it felt thunderous.“Don’t,” she breathed without turning.He didn’t answer.“Fifteen.”Ryan’s whisper cut through the air behind her. “This is insane.”Caleb muttered, “They won’t shoot. Not her.”The twin was silent.Too silent.Ariana’s thoughts were razor sharp.If they believed there was only one of her, then this was leverage.If they believed integration was complete, then they didn’t expect instability.Good.Let them believe that.“Fourteen.”The SUV doors opened in uni
Last Updated : 2026-02-18 Read more