The paper crumpled in Gregory’s fist as a sick weight settled in his chest.“Where is she?” he muttered, scanning the room like he might spot a clue in the shadows.Amelia checked the hallway, her hand hovering near the concealed taser at her belt. “No staff, no patients. This whole wing’s empty.”Gregory’s eyes locked on the surveillance camera above the door—its red light blinking.“Crane,” he said into his earpiece, “we need a trace on the retirement home’s security feed, now.”The line crackled.Then Crane’s voice came back tight. “Already on

The blast left Gregory’s ears ringing.Smoke filled the safehouse like a stormcloud, choking out the light. Alarms wailed behind flashing red emergency beacons as shards of the door rained down around them.Gregory’s eyes locked on the figure in the smoke—Jasper, stepping forward like a wraith, gun raised, a smug grin slicing across his face.“I told you, Stone,” Jasper said. “Next time, no message.”Amelia lunged behind an overturned table, dragging Gregory down with her as a shot rang out and tore into the wall where he’d just stood.Crane shouted from behind his rig. “Files are 78% backed up—stall him!”“Working on it!” Gregory yelled, crawling to the corner where he kept his emergency gear.Jasper fired again, the bullet sparking against metal.“You should’ve stayed a nobody,” he snarled, advancing. “Housekeeping suited you.”Gregory yanked open the floor hatch and tossed a flashbang toward the smoke.Boom!Light and sound exploded.Jasper screamed, dropping to one knee, disorient

The pain hit him like a wave, sharp and searing. Gregory gasped, clutching his side, blood soaking his shirt as he crumpled to the floor. His vision swam, every breath feeling like it might be his last.“You really thought you had a chance?” Voss's voice was cold, detached, as he towered over Gregory, his eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. “You’re not the hero in this story. You’re the fool.”Gregory’s hand trembled as he reached for the gun holstered at his side, but his body felt heavy, sluggish. The room around him spun, his thoughts growing distant.Voss knelt down, pressing the barrel of the gun to Gregory’s temple. “I gave you a chance. But you couldn’t let go, could you? You wanted to be something you’re not.”Gregory’s heart raced. His mind was foggy, but he knew one thing—he wasn’t ready to die. Not here, not now, not with Mrs. Dillard still tied to that chair.He clenched his jaw, his vision sharpening as he forced himself to focus. He couldn’t let this be the end. Not yet.

The safe house was a modest, nondescript building on the outskirts of the city, nestled in the dense woods that surrounded it. It wasn’t much, but it was secure. There were no windows, no signs of activity that might draw unwanted attention. It was a place to lay low, to catch their breath before moving forward.As soon as the SUV came to a stop, Mara was out the door, moving quickly to secure the perimeter. Amelia was already tending to Gregory’s injuries, but his mind wasn’t on the blood soaking his shirt or the pounding in his head. He couldn’t afford to let his body betray him now.“We’ve got a few hours before they catch up to us,” Mara said, her voice low as she made her way back into the house, a gun slung over her shoulder. “We need to figure out our next move.”Gregory nodded, but his gaze drifted to Mrs. Dillard, still unconscious on the couch. She was alive, but barely. Her chest rose and fell slowly, but the blood loss had left her pale, and he wasn’t sure if she would sur