?Chapter 1574:


    Why would a police car be speeding the wrong way in the dead of night—and bursting out of a forgotten road as though running for its life?


    Before she could process it, a furious roar erupted behind them.


    Blinding high beams flooded the interior, turning night into stark white. Maia threw up a hand against the re.


    Three heavily modified SUVs thundered past in the opposite direction, engines screaming with predatory urgency as they gave chase to the fleeing police car.


    In that split-second sh of light, Maia’s eyes caught something in the rearview mirror—a subtle gray emblem on one of the SUVs. Her blood ran cold. She knew that mark.


    The memory struck her without warning. South Lake Park. Assassins closing in, bullets slicing the air. Then a vehicle bearing that same distinct emblem had arrived, unleashing a burst of cover fire before vanishing into the night.


    They were Maynard’s colleagues. Members of the elusive, shadowy organization known as The Mask.


    “That car,” Maia said, her voice turning to steel. “Siena—follow them. Now.”


    Siena’s foot hovered over the brake. “Maia, those guys are driving like maniacs. It’s too—”


    “Follow them!” Maia cut in, unyielding.


    Her stare locked on the receding taillights. “One of those SUVs is the same vehicle from South Lake Park. Why are The Mask members chasing a police car at this hour? Something is seriously wrong.”


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    Siena’s expression hardened at the mention of South Lake Park. “Hold on,” she said grimly.


    She mmed the gearshift and floored the elerator. The sedan surged forward like a bullet.


    One hand on the wheel, Siena dialed a number. “Gear up, everyone. North suburb tunnel—move!”


    Ahead, a yawning ck tunnel loomed—the long-abandoned northern route.


    The police car, carrying the unconscious Kolton, didn’t hesitate. It plunged straight in.


    Inside, faint flickering lights cast eerie shadows across water-stained walls.


    Blocking the tunnel’s center was a massive, all-ck heavy-duty container truck. As the police car barreled toward it, the truck’s rear door nged open with mechanical precision. A long metal ramp extended, settling perfectly onto the road.


    The police car didn’t brake—it elerated up the ramp and disappeared into the truck’s cavernous interior.


    The ramp retracted in an instant. The heavy door mmed shut with a resounding boom, sealing everything in darkness.


    The truck’s engine growled to life, belching thick ck smoke as it lumbered toward the far end of the tunnel and disappeared into the night.


    At the mouth of the tunnel, three heavily modified SUVs roared in like hunting beasts, engines snarling as they swallowed the darkness. Their red taillights streaked briefly across the night before vanishingpletely.


    High above, the heavy rhythmic thump of rotor des chopped the air. Two heavily armed helicopters dropped lower, searchlights slicing through the ridges and peaks like white knives, racing toward the tunnel’s far exit.


    Maia watched them streak overhead through the car window, her pupils tightening.


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