Chapter 10 - The Phoenix Trap
The tactical van rolled through the industrial gates of the abandoned shipping yard in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Rain lashed against the corrugated iron roofs of the surrounding warehouses as night fell over the East River.
Inside the van, Leo sat handcuffed to a steel bench beside his mother, Julianna. Her dark hair was tangled, her face pale and drawn, but her eyes burned with an fierce, unbroken spirit as she held Maya against her side.
"I'm sorry, Mom," Leo whispered, his head hanging low. "I tried to get help from Mr. Vance. I brought them right to us."
Julianna reached out with her free hand, resting her warm palm against Leo’s cheek. "Look at me, Leo. Look at me."
Leo looked up into his mother's eyes.
"You did exactly what I needed you to do," Julianna whispered, a small, triumphant smile touching her lips. "I told you to find Arthur because Arthur is the only man who knows how to trigger the self-destruct sequence."
Leo blinked in confusion. "Self-destruct?"
"The Rosewood Cipher isn't a financial key, Leo," Julianna murmured softly as the van pulled to a halt inside the warehouse. "It's an automated wipe-program designed to erase the Syndicate's entire global server network the moment all three biological markers are brought into the same local network."
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The heavy rear doors of the van flew open. Victor Vane stood outside, holding an umbrella, flanked by Clara and eight armed guards.
"Welcome home, family," Victor said with a wide, theatrical bow. "Let's make history."
