35. Madix

                                    

                                          


                          
We all jumped at the gunshot. It was muffled by the thick walls and door, but it was loud. Closer than any other sound that had filtered through. Colton spun around and looked at the guards.
                          
"Well?" He snapped. "What are you waiting for? Go!"
                          
They did, reluctantly. Yost looked apprehensive. She pressed her headset into her ear. "What's happening out there?"
                          
There was a muffled scream and more rapid gunshots.
                          
Yost and Colton exchanged a glance. She pressed her hand against the door and it slid open. Over another gunshot, I heard Liam scream. Before I could even blink, Gemma was gone. She slipped out behind Yost, doors just barely missing her. Colton didn't seem surprised, but we all shifted nervously.
                          
"It seems our time is coming to a close," Colton said. Something heavy slammed against the door with a grunt. "I'll cut this short. You all did very well, considering the short schedule. The first extraction was the most planned and went without a hitch. The second mission was less stealthy, and you managed to make several enemies, but you did well in North Carolina."
                          
Damion and I glanced at each other. Was he really going to give us a review?
                          
"I am, however, stumped about what happened in New York."
                          
Evan didn't even hesitate to lie. "Emmanuel escaped when I cornered him. He sent a friend after us, but Gemma and I took care of it."
                          
"Liam Lavada," Colton shifted his gaze between us. "Was a very unwise acquaintance for you to make. His parents are star employees for me. He, however, decided that Colton Incorporated was not what he wanted with his life."
                          
What a shocker. Evan was the first to speak. "He isn't a problem anymore."
                          
"If that's the story you want to stick with, so be it," Colton allowed. "Now, on to Maine."
                          
"Gemma gave the cuff and the message to Marriot Lee like you asked."
                          
"You two stayed a long time for unwelcome guests."
                          
"We weren't unwelcome," Evan said coolly. "Your mother was just telling us about your company."
                          
"You had us go after your own family?" I sputtered.
                          
"My mother and I haven't talked in years," Colton said dismissively. "She chose to help a division of the government set on taking my company down."
                          
SECTA. That had to be it. Evan did the smart thing, which was not look at me. Colton didn't need to know that we knew what that meant, or he would never let us walk out of here.
                          
"I have to say that I'm impressed. You were prudent with time and followed the rules somewhat. As for-"
                          
"Where's my father at?" Evan interrupted after another bang in the hall. His legendary patience had finally worn thin.
                          
Colton sighed and continued like he hadn't spoken. "I haven't decided if you've passed or failed yet."
                          
We all looked at each other. Damion's face was dangerously pale, and so was Evan's; I rocked forward slightly, ready to ring Colton's neck, but remembered the threat waiting outside the door. I would never get close before he would freeze time and end me.
                          
"Why would we not pass if we did everything to the best of our ability?" Evan asked shakily.
                          
"Your best will get you nowhere in the real world. You either pass or fail. You don't get a gold star for trying."
                          
His hand caught my attention. He was holding the same switch from the train; Damion stepped forward first and Colton let out a barking laugh.
                          
"What are you going to do," He mocked. "Out of the four, you're the least offensive; the weakest link. It's in your blood, though, so I suppose it's not your fault that you'll be the first to go. You've allowed yourself to be beaten into submission."
                          
I grabbed Damion's arm and tried to pull him back; he was shaking, and I doubted it was from anything but fury. He snarled, honest to god, and squeezed my hand so tightly that I heard a pop. I was surprised he hadn't ground his teeth to dust yet.
                          
"Damion," I warned quietly. "Don't."
                          
He let me pull him back another foot or so before me off, never once taking his eyes off Colton.
                          
"Before you decide anything," Evan stopped for a second. I couldn't tell if he was close to tears or ripping Colton apart with his bare hands. "Before you decide, let me see my dad. I want to know that he's okay."
                          
It felt like a broken record, repeating himself again and again, but I supposed it was worth a shot. If Liam hadn't managed to get David away, we had lost completely.