Chapter 426: It’s my fault!!
Gunfire had finally begun to fade from the lower floors.
Adam moved through the corridor with his rifle raised, one hand pressed against his earpiece.
"Target secured."
Behind him, two soldiers dragged the captured man toward the extraction route.
"We’re getting out of the building."
A voice came through the radio.
"Good job, soldier. What’s the status on Ghost?"
Adam glanced over his shoulder.
"He is right with..."
He stopped.
Empty corridor.
Adam’s expression changed.
"Ghost?"
He turned around.
"Ghost!"
Nothing.
Adam clenched his jaw.
"Where is he?"
The commander’s voice immediately sharpened.
"Find him. You don’t have much time before their reinforcements arrive."
Adam sighed.
"This kid doesn’t listen to anyone."
"Adam."
"I know."
He turned toward the others.
"Roger that."
Then raised his voice.
"Find Ghost!"
Before anyone could move...
A door farther down the corridor opened.
Ghost walked out.
Young.
Far too young to belong in a place like this.
His weapon rested against his body, but his attention was somewhere else.
A thin electrical wire ran along the wall.
Ghost was following it.
Adam stared at him in disbelief.
"There you are."
Ghost ignored him.
Adam hurried closer.
"We’re evacuating."
No response.
"Ghost."
The boy kept walking.
"We still have half this building to cross, and we don’t have much time."
Ghost’s eyes remained fixed on the cable.
Adam finally grabbed his shoulder.
"What’s wrong?"
Ghost stopped.
"I saw him."
Adam frowned.
"Saw who?"
"The dealer."
Adam’s expression changed.
"The dealer?"
Ghost nodded.
Adam immediately understood.
"The other party was here too?"
"Yes."
Ghost pulled away and continued following the wire.
Adam looked toward the evacuation route.
Then at Ghost.
He cursed quietly and followed.
The cable led them around a corner.
Both slowed.
Ghost peeked into the next corridor.
Adam moved behind him.
Then saw someone at the far end.
A man.
Adam’s voice lowered.
"There."
The man looked back.
Their eyes met.
He immediately ran.
"Stop!"
Ghost moved first.
Adam followed.
The man disappeared through a doorway.
Ghost’s expression changed.
"No."
He accelerated.
"No, no, no."
They reached the room only seconds later.
Too late.
The man stood near the opposite wall.
Something small was clenched tightly in his hand.
His thumb pressed down against a mechanism.
"Don’t come any closer!"
Adam raised his rifle.
"What the hell is that?"
Ghost stopped immediately.
His eyes moved from the man’s hand...
To the wires.
Then toward the walls.
His face changed.
"Trigger."
Adam looked toward him.
"What?"
"This entire building is rigged."
The man smiled nervously.
Ghost stared at the mechanism.
"If he releases it..."
He looked at Adam.
"We all die."
Adam’s body camera transmitted everything.
The command center heard it too.
A voice immediately came through the radio.
"Adam, that man is wanted alive."
Adam stared at the trembling man.
Then at the trigger.
"Yeah."
He swallowed.
"Looks like that’s going to be difficult."
Ghost stepped forward.
The man immediately shouted,
"I said don’t move!"
His thumb trembled.
"I’ll release it!"
Ghost stopped.
Then looked toward Adam.
"Tell everyone to evacuate."
Adam’s eyes narrowed.
"And you?"
"Do it."
"Ghost."
"Adam."
The boy’s voice was unusually calm.
"Now."
Adam clenched his jaw.
Then touched his radio.
"All units evacuate immediately."
He looked at the trigger.
"Fifteen seconds."
"Move."
His voice echoed across every radio channel.
"Everyone out of the building. Fifteen seconds. Structure is rigged."
Boots thundered through distant corridors.
Ghost remained still.
Adam looked toward him.
"What are you planning?"
Ghost didn’t answer.
His eyes slowly moved toward the window.
The man noticed.
His gaze followed Ghost’s.
That was all Ghost needed.
His hand flashed.
A knife left his fingers.
Crash.
The window shattered.
The man instinctively turned.
Ghost crossed the distance in an instant.
One hand closed around the man’s wrist, keeping the trigger compressed.
The other struck him.
The man collapsed unconscious.
Adam rushed forward.
"Come on!"
Ghost was already examining the mechanism.
"Give me a wire."
"What?"
"Wire."
Ghost looked at him.
"And pick him up."
Adam stared at the unconscious dealer.
Then at Ghost.
"You are such a kid."
"Come on."
Ghost’s voice sharpened.
"We don’t have time to negotiate with him."
Adam sighed.
"Fine."
He found a short length of wire among the equipment and handed it over.
"Here."
Then grabbed the unconscious man.
"Be careful."
Ghost began wrapping the wire around the trigger mechanism, tightening it carefully enough to keep the pressure exactly where it was.
Adam watched.
"Slow."
"I know."
"Don’t release it."
"I know."
Ghost finished the knot.
He looked toward Adam.
"Ready?"
"No."
Ghost smiled faintly.
"Neither am I."
Very carefully...
He lowered the mechanism toward the floor.
Adam barely breathed.
"Easy."
Ghost released one finger.
Nothing.
Another.
Still nothing.
Then the mechanism touched the floor.
Beep.
Both froze.
Ghost’s eyes widened.
"Oh."
Adam stared at him.
"Oh?"
The beeping accelerated.
Ghost shouted,
"GET OUT!"
There was no time left.
Ghost turned toward the broken window.
"Go!"
Adam dragged the unconscious man forward.
Together, they threw him through the opening first.
Adam climbed toward the window.
Then looked back.
"Ghost!"
"I’m coming."
Adam reached for him.
But instead...
Ghost pushed Adam hard.
"What are you..."
Adam fell through the shattered window.
"HEY!"
The world exploded.
A deafening blast swallowed everything.
Heat.
Dust.
Concrete.
Glass.
Adam struck the ground outside and rolled several times.
For a few seconds...
Nothing existed except a piercing ring in his ears.
His vision blurred.
He tried to breathe.
Then suddenly remembered.
Ghost.
Adam pushed himself up.
"No."
The building behind him had partially collapsed.
Smoke filled the air.
"Ghost!"
He stumbled toward it.
"No, no, no..."
His radio was screaming something.
He couldn’t understand any of it.
Adam climbed over broken concrete.
"Damn it."
His breathing became frantic.
"He was just a kid."
He started pulling debris away with his bare hands.
"Ghost!"
Nothing.
Another slab.
Another piece of broken wall.
"Ghost!"
Then...
A cough.
Adam froze.
He heard it again.
Weak.
Under the debris.
Adam dropped to his knees.
"There."
He pushed a broken panel aside.
A shoulder appeared beneath the dust.
"I got you."
Adam pulled again.
"I got you, buddy."
Another piece came away.
Ghost coughed.
"Slow down..."
Adam stopped.
Ghost’s dusty face appeared.
"...do you want to kill me?"
Adam stared at him.
Then laughed breathlessly.
"Shut up."
He pulled the last debris away.
Ghost tried to stand.
Immediately collapsed.
Adam caught him.
"Easy."
Ghost looked toward his leg.
"I think..."
He breathed through the pain.
"My leg broke."
Adam chuckled in disbelief.
"Of course it did."
Ghost looked at him.
"You saved me."
Adam smiled.
And then...
Everything became quiet.
The smoke stopped moving.
The ruined building disappeared.
Adam’s smile slowly faded.
His eyes turned red.
His face became pale.
Blood suddenly spread across his shirt.
One hole.
Then another.
Then a third.
Ghost stared.
Adam’s voice changed.
Deeper.
Broken.
"You saved me."
Miles couldn’t move.
Adam looked directly into his eyes.
"Then..."
Blood ran from his lips.
"...why didn’t you save me?"
...
Miles woke with a violent gasp.
His eyes opened.
Dark room.
Pearl Villa.
His chest rose and fell rapidly.
Sweat covered his forehead.
For a moment...
He didn’t know where he was.
Then a hand touched his face.
"Miles?"
Chloe’s sleepy voice immediately became concerned.
"What’s wrong?"
Miles stared ahead.
The dream was still there.
Adam.
Blood.
Three gunshots.
Why didn’t you save me?
Chloe pushed herself upright.
She placed her palm against his forehead.
Her expression changed.
"You’re burning."
Miles closed his eyes.
"Do you have a fever?"
He took a slow breath.
"I’m fine."
Chloe stared at him.
Miles forced a small smile.
"Really."
She didn’t believe him.
Not even slightly.
Miles looked toward the clock.
Almost six in the morning.
He pushed the blanket aside.
"I’m going out."
Chloe frowned.
"For what?"
"Workout."
He stood.
Before he could take another step...
Two arms wrapped around him from behind.
Miles stopped.
Chloe pressed herself against his back.
For a few seconds...
Neither spoke.
Then Chloe whispered,
"Miles..."
He looked down at her hands around his waist.
"Why are you sad?"
His throat tightened.
"I’m not."
Chloe held him tighter.
Her voice broke slightly.
"I can see it in your eyes."
Miles closed his eyes.
"Who are you lying to?"
Silence.
Miles slowly turned around.
Chloe looked up at him.
Her eyes were already worried.
He pulled her gently against his chest.
One hand moved across her back.
"It’s alright."
"No."
Chloe held his shirt.
"It’s not."
Miles said nothing.
"Tell me what happened."
He continued gently patting her back.
Chloe waited.
When he still didn’t answer, she pulled away just enough to see his face.
"Come."
She took his hand.
"Sit down."
They sat on the edge of the bed.
Chloe kept both hands around one of his.
"Do you want to talk?"
Miles looked toward the floor.
Chloe softly added,
"No secrets."
He gave a faint, tired smile.
"Remember?"
Miles nodded.
For a long moment...
Nothing came out.
Then finally,
"I..."
His voice caught.
He tried again.
"I lost a friend."
Chloe became still.
Miles stared at their joined hands.
"Adam."
She remembered the name.
Miles continued,
"He was Secret Service."
His voice became quieter.
"He saved my life when I was younger."
Chloe listened without interrupting.
"I asked him to investigate something."
Miles swallowed.
"Something connected to those men who attacked Ivy and Olivia."
His fingers tightened.
"He called me the night before."
Chloe’s expression changed.
"We talked."
"We joked."
"He was fine."
His jaw tightened.
"And yesterday morning..."
He stopped.
Chloe knew before he finished.
Miles looked down.
"They found him dead in his apartment."
Her eyes widened.
"Miles..."
Chloe’s hands tightened around his.
Miles continued before she could say anything.
"I told him to investigate."
"I brought him into it."
His breathing became heavier.
"And now, he’s dead."
Chloe could see where his thoughts were going.
"No."
Miles looked at her.
She shook her head.
"Don’t do that."
"Chloe... I killed him."
"You didn’t kill him."
"It’s my fault."
"You asked someone you trusted to look into something."
Miles’ eyes hardened.
"And now he’s dead."
Chloe moved closer.
"If you had known he would be killed, would you have asked him?"
Miles immediately replied,
"No."
"Never."
"Then don’t turn what someone else did into your own crime."
Miles looked away.
Chloe gently took his face between her hands.
Miles remained silent.
Her thumbs gently brushed against his cheeks.
"The people who murdered him are responsible."
"Not you."
Miles closed his eyes.
"I should have..."
Chloe interrupted softly.
"You can’t be everywhere."
He opened his eyes.
"You can’t save everyone every time."
The words hurt.
She could see it.
So Chloe didn’t continue arguing.
Instead...
She moved beside him.
Then gently guided his head down onto her shoulder.
Miles resisted for barely a second.
Then let himself lean against her.
Chloe wrapped one arm around him.
The other moved slowly through his hair.
"Remember what you told me on the flight?"
Miles remained quiet.
Chloe smiled faintly.
"My shoulders are yours."
Something inside him loosened.
Just a little.
"You don’t have to explain anything else."
She whispered.
"You don’t have to be strong for me right now."
Miles closed his eyes.
For several minutes...
He simply stayed there.
No General.
No Ghost.
No Chairman.
Just Miles.
Grieving someone who had been laughing with him the night before.
His breathing slowly became calmer.
Chloe said nothing more.
She only held him.
Eventually...
Miles lifted his head.
His eyes were clearer now.
Not peaceful.
But controlled.
"Thank you."
Chloe smiled gently.
"You don’t have to thank your wife for this."
Miles looked at her.
Then nodded.
"I still need some time."
"I know."
She squeezed his hand.
"Go."
Miles looked surprised.
"Workout."
Chloe smiled faintly.
"You were going anyway."
He stood.
Then bent down and kissed her forehead.
"I’ll be back."
"I know."
Miles walked toward the door.
Chloe watched him leave.
She wanted to follow.
Wanted to stay near him.
But she understood.
Sometimes comfort meant holding someone close.
And sometimes...
It meant letting them have a little space to breathe.
...
At at Maple forest
He wrapped his hands.
Started running
The first few minutes were slow.
Then faster.
His feet struck the ground.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Adam’s voice returned.
I even saved you once.
Miles increased the speed.
His breathing deepened.
Yes, yes, Uncle Adam.
Faster.
Sweat began forming along his neck.
Don’t do anything that hurts you.
He ran harder.
Yes, yes, Nephew Miles.
Miles’ jaw tightened.
He stopped.
Dropped to the ground.
Push-ups.
One.
Two.
Three.
His arms moved mechanically.
Faster.
The dream returned.
The explosion.
Adam digging through debris.
I got you, buddy.
Miles pushed harder.
Twenty.
Thirty.
Forty.
His muscles began burning.
He didn’t stop.
Then why didn’t you save me?
His palms slammed against the ground with every repetition.
The sadness inside him began changing.
Not disappearing.
Changing.
Adam’s corpse.
Three bullets.
Marcus Vane.
Dead soldiers walking around alive.
Government records altered.
Families paid through hidden accounts.
Someone had built this system for years.
Someone had murdered Adam because he got too close.
Miles stood up.
His hands were shaking.
Not from exhaustion.
From rage.
Every step he took...
Every push-up...
The grief remained.
But something darker grew beside it.
Cold.
Focused.
Personal.
Miles looked at his reflection on his phone on the ground
For a moment...
He didn’t see the man who had returned from his honeymoon.
He saw someone he is trying to leave behind.
Ghost.
His hands tightened.
And somewhere beneath all that anger...
One promise quietly formed.
Adam’s death would not become another name in a file.
Not another statistic.
Not another convenient funeral.
Miles would find whoever pulled the trigger.
Whoever gave the order.
Whoever stood above Marcus Vane.
And this time...
They would not disappear into the system.