Chapter 115 - The Vault of the Unforgiven
The room was vast and freezing cold, lined with rows of decommissioned medical stasis pods.
In the center of the chamber, illuminated by an overhead surgical floodlight, stood Admiral Vance.
Beside him rested a pressurized glass cylinder filled with pale, translucent stabilization fluid.
Suspended inside the tank, surrounded by breathing tubes and monitoring wires, was Liam Montgomery.
His face was covered in faint shrapnel scars, but his chest moved with steady, mechanical rhythm.
Claire stopped ten feet away, her breath catching in her throat as tears threatened her eyes.
"He looks peaceful, doesn't he?" Vance said softly, stepping closer to the glass chamber.
Claire’s voice was barely a growl. "Take him out of that tank, Vance."
"Not yet, my dear," Vance replied, resting a gloved hand casually on the tank's control console.
In his other hand, the Admiral held a small, titanium remote detonator wired directly to the life support.
"Eight years ago, your mother signed the authorization to declare him dead," Vance explained smoothly.
"Margaret knew?" Claire breathed, feeling a fresh wave of ice flood her veins.
"Margaret was paid five million dollars in offshore bonds to keep her mouth shut," Vance smiled cruelly.
May you like
"You both sold him out," Claire said, raising her rifle directly at Vance’s forehead.
"Lower the weapon, Claire," Vance warned, thumbing the safety switch on the detonator. "Or his heart stops right now."
