Chapter 16 - THE MAN WHO TOOK ROSE
Maya’s terror erased every other question.
She did not care about trusts.
Patents.
Medals.
Or the merger.
She wanted her daughter.
Federal alerts spread across Texas.
Nathan’s car was found abandoned near a bus station.
Rose’s blanket lay on the front seat.
There was no blood.
No sign of a struggle.
Ethan left the hospital against medical advice.
His shoulder was bandaged beneath his shirt.
Maya found him inside the command center.
“You should be in bed.”
“My daughter is missing.”
“She was missing because of my past.”
“She is our child.”
Maya looked at him.
For once, he did not sound defensive.
He sounded terrified.
Agent Brooks traced a call made from Nathan’s phone.
It connected to Matthew Vance.
The call lasted twelve seconds.
Then another call went to Senator Vaughn.
Nathan was not kidnapping Rose for himself.
He was moving her because Vaughn had threatened her.
But whether he planned to rescue or exchange her remained unknown.
Vance recognized the location hidden in the call metadata.
An abandoned military training facility outside Fort Worth.
He and Matthew had trained there as young officers.
Federal teams surrounded the property.
Maya demanded to go.
Agent Brooks refused.
Ethan supported the refusal.
Maya turned on him.
“You do not decide for me.”
“No.”
He stepped back.
“I am afraid.”
“That is not the same thing.”
Maya entered the command vehicle.
Inside the facility, Nathan held Rose beneath a concrete stairwell.
She was crying but unharmed.
Senator Vaughn stood across the room.
Matthew Vance held a rifle near the entrance.
Vaughn demanded the medal and trust access codes.
Nathan refused.
“You promised Evelyn would live.”
“She did live.”
“In a locked room.”
Vaughn smiled.
“Details.”
Nathan tightened his arms around Rose.
“You will not take another child.”
Matthew looked toward the baby.
His expression changed.
He lowered the rifle slightly.
Vaughn noticed.
“Do not become sentimental now.”
Matthew aimed again.
Then Colonel Vance’s voice came through the building speakers.
“Matthew.”
The rifle moved.
Vance continued.
“I spent twenty-four years believing you were dead.”
Matthew closed his eyes.
“You should have left me buried.”
“Put down the weapon.”
“I cannot.”
“Why?”
Matthew looked toward Vaughn.
A red light blinked beneath his collar.
An explosive device was strapped to his chest.
May you like
Vaughn held the trigger.
“If anyone enters,” Vaughn said, “everyone inside dies.”
