A Single Dad Rushed Into a Burning Jet to Save the CEO — Then a Marine General Saw His Face and Went Pale
Chapter 7
The safe facility became a command center.
Daniel worked with investigators.
Victoria opened the company’s internal archives.
Jonathan contacted intelligence officials.
The original data was hidden in an encrypted server.
Only Victoria had access.
Daniel asked:
“Why didn’t you know this existed?”
“Because the acquisition team buried the original files.”
“Who led that team?”
She searched.
Then stopped.
“Marcus.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
The security director had been involved from the beginning.
He wasn’t just an insider.
He was one of the people who had helped conceal the military research.
And now he wanted control of the technology.
They traced Marcus.
A private airfield.
Daniel looked at the map.
“He’s leaving.”
Jonathan ordered a tactical team.
Victoria insisted on going.
“No.”
Daniel looked at her.
“I need to see the server.”
“It’s too dangerous.”
“It’s my company.”
“That doesn’t make you invincible.”
She stared.
“You sound like my security team.”
“Your security team was compromised.”
She smiled faintly.
“Point taken.”
Daniel went with the tactical unit.
They entered the hangar.
Marcus was gone.
But Caleb was waiting.
He stepped into the light.
Daniel froze.
Fifteen years collapsed into a single second.
Caleb smiled.
“You look old.”
Daniel stared.
“You look exactly the same.”
“War preserves some people.”
“It ruins others.”
Caleb laughed.
“Still moral.”
“Still alive.”
They faced each other.
Jonathan approached.
“Caleb Voss.”
Caleb smiled.
“General Cross.”
“You’ve caused enough damage.”
“No.”
He looked toward Victoria.
“I’ve only started.”
Daniel stepped between them.
“Why?”
Caleb’s expression changed.
“For years, they told us we were protecting people.”
He laughed bitterly.
“We weren’t.”
“We were protecting contracts.”
“You lost people.”
“I lost friends.”
Daniel’s voice became colder.
“You killed them.”
“I made decisions.”
“You betrayed us.”
Caleb stared.
“You walked away.”
“I survived.”
“You abandoned the mission.”
“The mission abandoned us.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Caleb said:
“You still think this is about the technology.”
Daniel’s eyes narrowed.
“What is it?”
Caleb smiled.
“Ask your general.”
Everyone looked at Jonathan.
He went pale.
Daniel noticed.
“What did you do?”
Jonathan didn’t answer.
Caleb laughed.
“There it is.”
The hangar suddenly filled with alarms.
A second team had entered.
Caleb disappeared through a side door.
Daniel chased him.
But before he could reach the exit, he heard Jonathan say:
“Daniel.”
He turned.
The general looked shattered.
“I knew the operation was compromised.”
Daniel stared.
“You knew?”
“I didn’t know who.”
“Did you suspect someone?”
Jonathan nodded.
“Me.”
The words stunned everyone.
