POV: Ethan ColeMom’s awakening turned out to be false again, and it just left me hollow. Dr. Chen had explained it again after I'd sat by Mom's bed for hours watching her breathe, her brain was fighting to wake up but her body wasn't ready yet, and the stress of my being in danger had triggered the spike that nearly killed her."She's stable now," Dr. Chen had said. "But another premature awakening could cause permanent damage. She needs time."Time was the one thing I didn't have. Cross's forty-eight-hour ultimatum was expiring in six hours. Victoria's assets were still frozen. Federal investigators were circling, and Cross had resources I couldn't match through conventional means. But I had something Cross didn't account for, desperation, and a system that gave me impossible victories.We were gathered in the safe house, and the atmosphere was tense with focused energy. Maps of Cross's Virginia compound covered every surface, and Lily's seven laptops were running attack programs si

POV: Ethan ColeMum was stable but unconscious, and Dr. Chen said there was nothing I could do except wait and let her body recover from the stress of seven hours of testimony. And I just sat beside her bed holding her hand and feeling absolutely useless.Maya arrived from Virginia two hours after mum collapsed, and I could feel her exhaustion from coordinating the compound siege and then the disappointment when Cross and Daniel escaped.Marcus and Lily came with her, both looking like they hadn't slept since they were born."The compound is secured," Marcus said quietly, settling into a chair with his laptop. "FBI has forensics teams processing everything. But Cross and Daniel used an escape tunnel that led to the river. Trail goes cold from there.""FBI has an APB out nationwide," Maya added. "Airports, borders, train stations. But we all know Cross has been planning escape routes his entire criminal career."Of course he does. Daniel on the other hand had nothing except his father,

POV: Ethan Cole"Go," That’s what mum said after I told her about Cross escaping. Her voice is stronger than before now. "Finish this. I'll be fine.""Mom…""Ethan." She squeezed my hand. "I didn't survive months of torture just to watch you let Cross escape because you're worried about me. Your friend owns this hospital right? And her security is here. The doctor is monitoring me. I'm safe. Go catch that bastard."I kissed her forehead and left.Maya, Marcus, Lily, and Commander Garrett's team were waiting in the lobby. Victoria had arranged a private jet, waiting at the airfield, fueled and ready. We were airborne twenty minutes later.The system displayed new mission parameters.[MISSION: FINAL CONFRONTATION][LOCATION: TORONTO, CANADA][TIME WINDOW: 12 HOURS][REWARD: $15,000,000 + TRUTH ABOUT JAMES COLE'S DEATH][ACCEPT? Y/N]That last line stopped me cold.The truth about my father's death.The system had been vague about Dad for months, nothing solid about him.And now it was

POV: Ethan ColeCross and Daniel's trials were scheduled for two months out, and federal prosecutors were building the largest corruption case in twenty years. RICO charges. Multiple co-conspirators. Morrison Pharmaceuticals executives. Corrupt Cole Industries board members. Political fixers Cross had used for decades.Every network wanted interviews. Every newspaper wanted statements.I declined them all. The evidence would speak for itself.Emma agreed to testify as primary witness against Daniel, and mom was preparing to testify about her kidnapping and medical torture. Daniel was also cooperating fully, providing evidence against Cross in exchange for reduced sentencing.Cross was isolated, his former allies distancing themselves, his legal team overwhelmed, his political career completely destroyed. Seventy-eight years old and facing life in prison with video evidence of murdering my father. There was no scenario where he won.But two months was a long time to wait, and the syste

POV: Ethan ColeThe CIA agents stood there waiting for an answer, and I looked at them like they'd asked me to donate a kidney."No," I said.The lead agent, tall, crew cut, that weird federal authority posture, stepped closer. "Mr. Cole, this isn't a request. The Vengeance Protocol represents unauthorized neural interface technology with national security implications. We need to examine it.""You need to prove it exists first," I said. "And even if it did, you'd need a warrant. Do you have a warrant?"His jaw tightened. "We can obtain one.""Good luck with that."I pulled out my phone and called Victoria.She answered on the first ring. "Mr Cole.""CIA agents outside the courthouse demanding access to technology they can't prove exists. Can you handle this?""Immediately." She hung up.Three minutes later, both agents' phones rang simultaneously. They answered, listened, went progressively paler.Victoria's legal team was apparently very persuasive.The lead agent lowered his phone.