Chapter 23 The Ophir Code

• The explosion still echoed in everyone's ears in that room, leaving a faint smell of smoke that seeped in through the ventilation system. Rendra stared at the phone still held by Aleksander, his face turning deathly pale reading the message displayed on the screen. Even from a few steps away, Rania could see her uncle's bound hands trembling more violently, his knuckles whitening from the tight grip he held on the arm of the metal chair he was bound to.
• "They really did it," he whispered, his voice trembling violently. "They destroyed that vehicle just to prove their seriousness. God, if they can do that within minutes, what will they do to my children?"
• "That's why you need to talk now," Aleksander pressed, kneeling in front of Rendra to be level with his eyes, his voice now far more urgent yet still controlled. "Staying silent no longer protects anyone, Rendra. Working with me is the only real chance left to save your children."