The soldiers forced William onto an exam table, unbound his hands, and strapped his arms and legs in. A woman wearing blue-green scrubs walked in and injected something into his shoulder. The soldiers stood back while he lost consciousness.

When William opened his eyes, he lay on a couch, his hands once again bound.

Through blurred vision that slowly cleared, he took in the room around him. It was a corner office, with floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides that looked out on the island landscape. He stood, uneasily, and shook his head, trying to clear it.

A man rose from behind the desk, walked over, and grasped his upper arm.

“Here, old friend. Have a seat. Relax. Everything will be fine very soon.”

The man deposited William in a chair in front of the desk. Sitting up helped.

When the man’s face finally came into focus. William was unsure if he was saved or truly trapped.

Yuri stood across from him.

Chapter 120

Chapter 120

The hurt Peyton felt in that moment nearly overwhelmed her. It was like the pain that night in London, when her mother had taken Andrew, Madison, and her away and told them that their father was dead. It was like the dark chapter of her life she had shared with Desmond. She had felt the same then: alone, confused.

But this was worse. Seeing her mother here—apparently in charge—involved in the slaughter of millions, complicit in releasing a pathogen upon a defenseless world, perpetrating an event Peyton had dedicated her life to stopping… It was the ultimate betrayal.

Peyton tried but failed to keep the emotion out of her voice.

“Mom, how could you do this?”

Lin Shaw glanced away from Peyton. “There’s more going on here than you understand.”

“Then explain it. I’m not a little girl anymore.”

“We don’t have time—”

“Explain to me how killing millions of helpless people serves a purpose.”

“Peyton.”

“And what’s the cure? I know it’s not a vaccine and it’s not an antiviral—not like anything in use today.”

Lin Shaw exhaled but remained silent.

“What is it, Mom? What does the cure really do? I know you’re not growing a virus or biological material down there. It’s not a chemical agent. Tell me, please. What are you all planning?”

Lin stepped closer to Peyton. “I’ll explain, but right now, we need to go.”

“No. I’m not going anywhere with you. Not until you tell me why you’re doing this.”

“I’m not doing this. There are two factions within the Citium. We’re at war.”

The words shocked Peyton—and infused her with hope. She desperately wanted to believe that her mother was innocent. “Prove it.”

“Peyton—”

“She’s telling the truth.”