Once.
Twice.
Delta Five channel.
I answer without speaking.
Aaron’s voice comes through tight. Controlled. Too controlled.
“We’ve got movement.”
I swing my legs out of bed. “Talk.”
“Ascendancy just shifted assets. Financial flows rerouted.New security contractors brought in overnight.”
My jaw tightens.
“That’s not random,” I say.
“No,” Miles adds. “That’s someone reacting to new intel.”
I close my eyes briefly.
“When?” I ask.
“Within the last six hours.”
That lines up exactly with the feeling that woke me.
“What did Malenkov get?” Jase asks.
“Not much,” I say quietly. “Not everything—but enough to anticipate us.”
Silence hits the line.
No one knows we are getting information from inside. I don’t even know who is getting word to us.
Then Aaron exhales. “Which one?”
I don’t hesitate. “Jonah.”
No one questions it.
“He always held longer than he should’ve,” I continue. “He’ll hate himself for it. I’m sure if he said anything, it was mostly made-up.”
“What’s our play?” Miles asks.
I stand, staring out at the dark ocean, waves breaking steadily and indifferent.
“We adjust,” I say. “We move faster. And we stop assuming Malenkov is reacting.”
I pause.
“He’s planning.”
The call ends.
I turn—and find Lena awake, watching me.
