“I don’t break those,” I tell her.
And I mean it.
Even if I have to tear the world apart to keep it.
79
Ronan
Location: Mobile Command — Mountains Outside Lisbon
Time: 02:10
“It’s live.”
The words settle into the room like a trigger being pulled.
Three red markers ignite across the global map.
Frankfurt.
Milan.
Istanbul.
Perfectly spaced.
Perfectly timed.
Perfectly controlled.
“All three events are unfolding exactly as predicted,” I say, tracking the data as it floods in. “Grid instability in Frankfurt. Transport disruption in Milan. Communications interference in Istanbul.”
Feeds stack.
News breaks.
Panic spreads.
“Media is spinning up,” I continue. “Governments are escalating response protocols. Emergency powers are already being invoked.”
Exactly what Kade wanted.
Exactly what he designed.
I glance at Lark.
Waiting.
Watching.
She doesn’t flinch.
Doesn’t rush.
Doesn’t react.
“Let it,” she says.
