Chapter 177

The rusty edge of the factory's side door tore Stella's hospital gown, and a sharp, twisting pain stabbed through her lower abdomen. Andrew held her wrist in an iron grip, practically dragging her through a hallway cluttered with broken-down machines. "Just three more minutes," he said, voice steady as ever. "The chopper's waiting on the roof." Stella's breathing had turned metallic, coppery with the taste of blood. She was running on empty. Behind them, frantic footsteps and cursing echoed—at least five of the pursuers had made it past the blast zone. "Left!" Andrew yanked her into a side passage. Stella's shoulder smacked into a metal pipe with a dull thud. She bit down on her lip, swallowing any sound. Under the flickering emergency exit sign, she saw him pull a sleek, black device from his waist. The moment his thumb hit the button, another explosion thundered in the distance. The whole building shook. "Electronic detonator," he remarked, catching her glance with a crooked, almost