In the dimly lit corridor, Hans and Julian froze. Standing just a few paces behind them was Operative 064, dressed in a white hazmat suit. He was one of Alexia's most loyal henchmen.
Hans kept his eyes lowered, but a lethal, icy fury began to bleed into his gaze.
He stood with his back turned to the man, his right hand slipping seamlessly under his jacket, his fingers wrapping around the cold, hard grip of his pistol.
"064. Do you need something?" Julian asked, forcing a tone of mild annoyance.
064 eyed them suspiciously. "Who's on the gurney?"
"Just a failed specimen," Julian replied. "Taking it out for disposal."
"This hallway leads to the emergency escape tunnel. The incinerator isn't in this direction."
064 smelled a rat, his voice dropping into a menacing snarl. "Who exactly is under that sheet? Who are you trying to smuggle out?! Tell me right now, or I'm dragging Ms. Alexia down here to deal with you herself!"
Hans stood rigidly with his back to him, his expression completely unreadable.
Julian ground his teeth together. Sweat dripped silently down the side of his face, vanishing into the collar of his shirt.
"Fine. You won't talk? I'll get a team down here to search it! Hey—!"
064 barely got a syllable out before Hans's brow darkened. Killing intent surged through him. He spun around, drawing his weapon in a blur of motion.
Bang!
A gunshot echoed off the concrete walls.
But the bullet hadn't come from Hans's gun.
Julian stood there, drenched in sweat and gasping for air, both hands gripping his pistol tightly. Across from him, a bloody hole was bored dead center in 064's forehead.
064's eyes bulged in shock as his rigid body tipped backward, hitting the floor with a heavy thud.
Hans stared at him, utterly stunned!
He had given Julian the gun strictly for self-defense in case things went south.

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