Chapter 1 - The Ghost Protocol
"Eleven weeks," Elias repeated over the encrypted line.
His voice carried no shock, only the cold precision of a man calculating survival odds.
Maya sat on the edge of the cheap motel bed, her hand resting protectively over her stomach.
"He doesn't know," she whispered to the man who was supposed to be her husband's most loyal soldier.
"And he can never know," Elias replied instantly.
Maya felt a tear finally break free and trace a hot path down her cheek.
"Gideon divorced me today to make me useless to his enemies," she explained.
"It was a foolish, desperate move by a man who thinks he can control the world," Elias said bluntly.
"Victor Crowe will not see you as useless, Maya."
"He will see you as an unprotected target."
Maya pulled her worn brown leather bag onto her lap, her veterinary instincts screaming at her to fight or run.
"I need to disappear, Elias."
"I have money saved from the clinic, cash he doesn't know about."
There was a heavy pause on the line, the sound of Elias typing rapidly on a keyboard.
"Cash won't save you from Victor, and it certainly won't hide you from Gideon when he inevitably changes his mind," Elias warned.
"If you want to protect that child, you have to die tonight."
Maya's breath caught in her throat at the absolute finality of his words.
"I have a car waiting two blocks from your motel," Elias instructed.
"Leave your coat, leave your phone, and leave your wedding ring on the dashboard of your current vehicle."
"I will handle the crash scene and the fire."
Maya looked at the silver band on her left hand, the only piece of Gideon she had left.
"Will he believe it?" she asked softly.
"He will have to," Elias answered.
"You have five minutes to get out the back window."
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"Why five minutes?" Maya asked, panic finally bleeding into her voice.
"Because Victor Crowe's men just pulled into your motel parking lot, and they are heavily armed."
