Chapter 720
Solenia, West District.
The sprawling research institute loomed out of the mountain mist, ringed with high fences and guarded like a fortress. As soon as the SUV rolled into the surveillance zone, a dozen guards in black appeared out of nowhere, guns drawn and faces hard. They closed in fast, surrounding the vehicle.
“Charlotte…”
Adonis, gripping the steering wheel up front, shot a tense look over his shoulder. His jaw was tight, eyes sharp. In the back seat, Charlotte barely cracked her eyes open, just pressing her lips together in annoyance.
“These idiots actually have the nerve to point guns at us!”
Adonis’ voice shot up several octaves, like someone had just stepped on his foot. He was practically vibrating with outrage. “Jackson, hand me my gun! I swear, I’ll take every last one of them down!”
Jackson glanced at Charlotte in the rearview mirror. She looked completely unfazed, not a flicker of concern on her face. Quietly, Jackson slid the gun he’d pulled out back where it came from. If Charlotte wasn’t worried, this probably wasn’t worth panicking over.
“Jackson, you-“
Adonis started to lunge for the glove compartment, but a hand snatched him back, shoving him firmly into his seat.
“Sit still.”
Charlotte murmured the words, opening her eyes at last. She adjusted her collar, slung her backpack over one shoulder, and reached for the door.
“Charlotte…”
Jackson and Adonis both tensed up when they realized she was about to step out empty-handed. “You’re just going out there?”
Solenia wasn’t like Cabinda. People here played for keeps. Worse, the guards had no idea who Charlotte was. Any sudden move could mean bullets flying.
“Let’s go.”
Charlotte shot Adonis a cool look, pulled on her mask, and pushed the door open. The second her feet hit the ground, every gun in the circle zeroed in on her. All business.
Adonis and Jackson exchanged a
quick glance, then got out too, taking up positions at Charlotte’s sides. Instantly, the air felt electric, both groups sizing each other up. Three against a dozen. The odds weren’t
great. te
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“Who are you?” one of the guards demanded, eyes narrowed. His voice was icy.
“This is private property. Leave now.”
“I have an appointment.” Charlotte stood her ground, hands in her pockets, gaze steady. “Your boss will want to see me.”
She said the director would want to see her?
The guards looked at each other, then back at Charlotte with smirks. Did she even know who their director was? And she thought he’d come running for her?
“Enough. Get out of here. I’m not going to tell you again,” the leader snapped, clearly losing patience. “Stay any longer and things will get ugly.”
Charlotte’s lips curled in a faint, chilly smile. “I’d like to see how ugly you plan on getting.”
So cocky. She clearly had no idea how things worked in Solenia.
The leader was done talking. He lunged forward, aiming to shove Charlotte out of the way.
Her eyes flashed cold. She caught his hand, twisted, and tossed him aside like he weighed nothing. The big man stumbled, dropped to one knee, landing right in front of her.
That caught everyone’s attention. The guards were suddenly all business, guns aimed at Charlotte’s head, not even pretending to play nice.
“Who are you people?” someone barked.
Jackson and Adonis both glanced at Charlotte. She was still calm, like nothing about this rattled her. They swallowed their frustration, knowing she’d never let anyone get the best of her.
Stay cool.
Charlotte leaned against the wall, brushing off her hands, voice steady as ever you’ve got five minutes. Tell your director an extract the medical components from Drug No. 1″ shovel
Drug No. 1? She could extract its medical components?
For years, the whole institute had tried and failed to figure that out. The impossible, suddenly within reach.