Chapter 42 - Gathering Ghosts
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The reinforced engine of the armored SUV roared as we tore down the winding mountain road away from the estate. In the rearview mirror, my ancestral home sat dark and fortified, a decoy for whatever Julian Vance planned to send next.
Nicolás sat in the passenger seat, his knuckles white as he clutched his tactical backpack. He was fifteen now, old enough to remember the chaotic days before we found peace, but young enough to still be terrified of the dark.
"Where are we going?" he asked, his eyes locked on the twisting road ahead.
"To a place that doesn't exist on any map," I replied, my eyes scanning the tree line for snipers or ambush vehicles. "But first, I have to make a call. We need a team."
I reached over and activated the encrypted satellite phone mounted on the dashboard. I dialed a twelve-digit sequence I hadn't used since the Vanguard fell. The line clicked twice, followed by a heavy silence.
"I thought we agreed this line was dead, Elena," Audrey’s voice crackled through the speaker, crisp and instantly familiar.
"The Vanguard is dead. The Viper is awake," I said.
I heard a sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line. "Julian Vance?"
"He just sent me a photograph of Nicolás from my own backyard," I gripped the steering wheel until my knuckles cracked. "He invited me to a gala. It’s a trap, Audrey. But he has something of my father's, and he's threatening my son. I need an overwatch."
"Give me coordinates," Audrey said, the hesitation vanishing from her voice, replaced by the cold professionalism of the operative I once fought beside. "I’ll bring the heavy gear. What about Marcus?"
"Leave Marcus out of this. He's earned his retirement. Just you, me, and the shadows," I instructed.
"I'll meet you at Safehouse Echo in four hours," Audrey confirmed. "Keep your head on a swivel, Elena. If Julian is playing this game, he already has the board rigged."
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"Let him try," I snarled, cutting the connection.
I pressed my foot down on the accelerator, pushing the SUV to its limits. We were heading into the storm, but this time, I wasn't running. I was going to tear the Vance legacy apart piece by piece.
