“Cal,” I say.
Marcus nods.
“That’s where he is.”
The room goes still.
I look at my team.
“Prep everything,” I say evenly. “We’re not waiting for a perfect window.”
Aaron nods. “We’ll need to move fast.”
“We will,” I agree.
I turn to Marcus. “You did your job. You got us what we needed.”
Marcus’s shoulders sag with relief.
“Just bring him home,” he says hoarsely.
I place a hand on his shoulder.
“I will,” I promise.
Outside, dawn is just beginning to break.
And deep underground, a man who believes he’s already been forgotten is running out of time.
But he’s not alone anymore.
Not even close.
40
Ronan
Location: Eastern Europe — Subterranean Holding Site (Primary)
Time: 2311 Hours
This place was built to disappear people.
No perimeter lights. No visible structures. Just a decaying concrete bunker half-swallowed by forest and snow, its entrance disguised beneath rusted machinery and weeds.
Lena was right.
This is where he’d keep the one he wanted tobreak slowly.
I crouch beside the breach point, gloved hand pressed to frozen ground, listening. The earth hums faintly beneath my palm—power lines, ventilation, human presence.
Deep.
“Confirm,” I murmur.
Miles’ voice comes through comms, tight. “Thermal shows multiple heat signatures below ground. Heavy concentration in the central corridor. Guard rotation every ninety seconds.”
Aaron adds, “No transfers logged. He thinks Cal is secure.”
