Chapter 3

3

I put on my bomb suit and rushed into the building.

There were no blueprints and no prepared plans.

But I had the memories of my previous life.

I bypassed the mess of wires Macy had incorrectly set and ignored the flashing red death traps she'd created.

I found the core server with surgical precision.

I pumped in the liquid nitrogen, and a thick white mist filled the room.

The piercing alarm cut out instantly.

The secondary detonation sequence was successfully frozen.

I pulled off my helmet, sweat and mist blurring my vision.

I slumped against the wall, feeling like I was about to pass out from exhaustion.

When I walked out of the building, the air outside erupted into cheers of relief.

Colleagues rushed over to support me, their voices full of gratitude and lingering fear.

"Sienna! You're a freaking goddess!"

"I knew it! As long as Sienna's on the job, nothing is impossible!"

The invitations for celebratory drinks came pouring in.

I turned them all down.

I just wanted to go home.

But as I reached for my car door, a sharp pain shot through the back of my neck.

A large hand clamped over my mouth, dragging me backward.

I struggled, but I was easily overpowered and shoved into a dark storage room.

The door slammed shut and the lock clicked.

I was tied to a cold metal chair, unable to move.

A flickering, old bulb hummed above me.

In the shifting shadows, a familiar silhouette slowly became clear.

Grant.

My husband.

He knelt in front of me, his fingers gently brushing through my hair. His voice was hauntingly soft.

"Sienna, honey, don't move. The rope will just burn you."

The sound made my skin crawl like a snake was sliding over me.

He stared at me with a look of madness in his eyes.

"You destroyed Macy's life. Do you realize that?"

His voice was a whisper, but it hit me like a sledgehammer.

"The report lists her as the primary offender. Sienna, her career is over. Her life is over."

I looked at him, feeling a chill deep in my bones.

"She did it to herself!"

He shook his head and sighed, as if I were a child throwing a tantrum.

"No, I can still save her."

He stood up and grabbed a heavy steel pipe from the corner.

"If you can't disarm bombs anymore, the higher-ups will have no choice but to reinstate Macy."

"Sienna, help her. Just this one last time." "Don't be afraid, honey. Once this is over, Macy and I will take good care of you."

My blood turned to ice.

I watched in horror as he stepped closer, the steel pipe gripped tight in his hand.

"Grant! You're insane! What are you doing? My hands are for saving lives!"

"They aren't meant to be sacrificed for your little protégé's career!"

A flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes, but he didn't stop. He raised the pipe high.

"I'll look after you for the rest of your life."

That was the last thing I heard.

The pipe cut through the air with a whistle.

CRACK!

I heard the sickening sound of my own right wrist shattering.

Agony flooded my senses like a tidal wave, and my vision went black as I nearly lost consciousness.

He dropped the pipe and knelt down.

Using a cloth from somewhere, he carefully wrapped my mangled hand.

He moved with a tenderness that suggested he was handling a priceless treasure.

He leaned into my ear, his warm breath hitting my neck as he whispered.

"You'll have to stay here for the night."

"As soon as the investigation is over, I'll come get you."

"Macy's reputation cannot have a single stain on it."

With that, he stood up and walked away without looking back.

The light flickered out.

The room fell into total darkness and silence.