Chapter 63 Fourth-Eight Hours
Rafael
I could not stop looking at Flora. Even as Catherine explained the details, my eyes kept returning to her. She was shaking. Trying to hide it, but I could see.
"Rafael, are you listening?" Vittorio asked.
"No," I admitted. "Flora needs medical attention. We can discuss this later."
"This cannot wait," Catherine said. "Whoever helped Chen escape has been planning this for months."
"I do not care," I interrupted. "Look at her. She was just kidnapped. She needs rest."
Flora touched my arm. "Rafael, I am fine."
"You are not fine," I said. "I am taking you somewhere safe."
Catherine exchanged a look with Vittorio. "Fine. But we are coming with you."
We ended up at one of Vittorio's safe houses. A penthouse with enough security to protect a president. A doctor examined Flora's wrists where the zip ties had cut into her skin.
"You will bruise," Dr. Santos said. "But nothing is broken. You were lucky."
"Lucky," Flora repeated hollowly.
After the doctor left, Flora disappeared into the bathroom. When she emerged, her face was pale but composed.
"Better?" I asked.
"No," she said honestly. "But cleaner."
Catherine pulled up files on her laptop. "His name is Victor Kask. Estonian billionaire. Made his fortune in pharmaceuticals."
"And?" I asked.
"He has been funding genetic research for thirty years," Catherine continued. "Including Project Genesis. We found wire transfers to the laboratory where Eva was created."
Flora set down her fork. "He funded my creation?"
"Partially," Catherine said. "Kask was the primary backer. And he has been in contact with Chen for the last six months."
"Saying what?" I demanded.
Marco pulled up another file. "Planning the escape. Offering resources. Everything Chen needed."
"But why?" Flora asked.
"There is more," Vittorio said.
Catherine pulled up a medical manifest. "This is a transfer order for Subject L-02."
The room went silent.
"My twin," Flora whispered.
"Your twin," Catherine confirmed. "Transferred from the Moscow facility three weeks ago. The embryo was implanted in a surrogate two weeks ago."
I felt like I had been punched. "Someone is pregnant with Flora's twin?"
"Not just someone," Marco said. "A woman named Sophia Kask. Victor Kask's daughter."
Flora made a sound like she had been hurt. "Why would his daughter carry my twin?"
"Because Kask is obsessed with Project Genesis," Catherine said. "He wants to control the future of genetic engineering."
"By creating more of me," Flora said, her voice hollow.
"Not just you," Vittorio said grimly. "We found orders for five other embryos from the Moscow facility. All implanted in different surrogates over the last month."
"Five?" I managed.
"Five," Catherine confirmed. "Plus your twin. Six new subjects. Six children who will be born in the next six months."
Flora stood up suddenly. "I need air." She walked to the window, pressing her forehead against the glass.
I followed her. "Flora—"
"Don't," she said quietly.
We stood in silence while the others discussed security.
"I thought it was over," Flora finally said. "I thought we had won."
"We caught Chen," I said.
"But there is always someone else," Flora turned to me. "Another person pulling strings. Another threat. When does it end, Rafael?"
"I do not know," I admitted.
"Six children," she said. "Six versions of me, being born into this nightmare. And I cannot stop it."
Catherine's voice cut through. "Rafael, Flora, you need to see this." We walked back. Catherine had a video. "This was uploaded an hour ago. It is addressed to Flora."
She hit play. The screen showed Victor Kask. He smiled.
"Hello, Flora," he said. "I am sure you know who I am. And I am sure you have discovered what I have done."
Flora's hand found mine, gripping tight.
"I am not your enemy," Kask continued. "I am the person who made you possible. Who funded your creation."
"Bastard," I muttered.
"The six children being born are just the beginning," Kask said. "They will be raised properly. Educated. Protected. They will be the foundation of a new humanity."
"He is insane," Flora breathed.
"I want you to join me, Flora," Kask said. "You understand what you are. Help me raise these children. Help me shape the future."
He leaned forward. "If you refuse, you will spend your life running. Hiding. But if you join me, I can give you purpose. Protection. A family."
The video ended. Stunned silence.
"He wants to recruit you," Marco said.
"Over my dead body," I said.
"That might be the alternative," Vittorio said darkly. "If Flora refuses, Kask will see her as a threat."
"I am already a threat," Flora said.
"So what do we do?" I asked.
Flora stood up. "No more running. He wants me to join him? Fine. I will join him."
"What?" I said. "Absolutely not."
"Not really," Flora clarified. "But we can make him think I am considering it. Buy time. Get close enough to find out where he is, where the surrogates are."
"It is too dangerous," I said.
"Everything is dangerous," Flora shot back. "But this way we have control."
Catherine nodded slowly. "It could work."
"No," I said firmly. "I will not let you walk into the lion's den."
Flora turned to me, her eyes blazing. "You will not let me? This is my life. My DNA. My genetic siblings. I get to decide."
"And you are offering yourself as bait?" I demanded.
"I am taking control," Flora said. "For the first time since I woke up in your apartment, I am choosing what happens next. You can support me or get out of my way."
The words hit like a slap.
My phone buzzed. Unknown number. I answered.
"Mr. Valserro," Victor Kask's voice came through. "I trust Flora received my message?"
"You son of a—"
"I am calling with a proposal," Kask interrupted. "Flora has forty-eight hours to decide. If she agrees to meet me, I will answer her questions. Show her the children. Prove my intentions are pure."
"Your intentions are never pure," I spat.
"Forty-eight hours," Kask repeated. "After that, I will assume her answer is no. And I will take more permanent measures to protect my investment."
"Is that a threat?"
"It is a promise. The clock is ticking, Mr. Valserro. Choose wisely."
The line went dead. I looked at Flora.
"Forty-eight hours," I said.
"Then we have forty-eight hours to prepare," Flora said.
"Or forty-eight hours to run," I countered.
"I am done running," Flora said quietly. "I am going to meet him. And I am going to end this."
I wanted to argue. But I could see in her eyes that her mind was made up.
And I knew that the next forty-eight hours would change everything.