bChapter /bb320 /b

Ethan’s eyes narrowed as he caught a sh of light reflecting off something in the distance. His instincts kicked in immediately–that telltale glint could only be one thing: a rifle scope.

The muffled pop of a silenced rifle echoed through the air. The bullet shattered the windshield, punched through the hood bof /bbthe /bsweatshirt covering the dummy head he’d ced in the passenger seat, and continued through the rear window in a spray of ss.

Thank God for paranoia.

His precautionary measure–a hastily constructed mannequin using bunched clothing and a ser ball from a vige market–had just saved Jade’s life. The sniper had targeted exactly where her head would have been if he hadn’t swapped her to the back seat an hour earlier.

Ethan dove into the back, scooping Jade’s limp form into his arms. Her fever–hot skin burned against his chest as he kicked open the door and rolled out, using the car’s body as cover.

“Come on,e on,” he whispered, cradling her against him. fn9112 The source of th?s content is find{n}ovel/fn9112

The car offered minimal protection in the open terrain. Ethan scanned the area–nothing but t, dusty ground stretching in all directions, with the small vige they’d just passed through barely visible in the distance. The sniper had chosen the perfect ambush spot.

Another bullet pinged off the car’s frame, inches from Ethan’s head. He needed to move, but where?

The explosion rocked the ground beneath him as he fired three precise shots into the gas tank. The car erupted in mes, creating a momentary screen of smoke and chaos. Ethan seized the opportunity, clutching Jade tightly against his chest as he sprinted toward a small convenience store about fifty yards away–the only structure within reach.

Inside the dingy store, Ethanid Jade behind the counter and checked the perimeter. The shopkeeper and two customers had already fled through the back door. Within minutes, ck–d figures surrounded the building–Shadow operatives closing in on their target. Bullets shattered the windows and splintered the wooden shelves. Ethan, armed with only his handgun and dwindling ammunition, knew they

were trapped.

“Come on, Jade,” he whispered, checking her pulse. “We need a miracle right about now.”

As if in answer, the distant rumble of engines cut through the gunfire.

Night’s tactical team arrived minutester, their ck SUVS kicking up dust clouds as they skidded to a halt. The burning car illuminated the darkening sky, casting eerie shadows across the desertndscape.

“Spread out! Find them!” Night barked into hisms. His face was a mask of controlled fury as he surveyed the scene.

The convenience store had be a battlefield, Shadow operatives converged on the small building, their weapons trained on every exit. Night’s team formed a perimeter, engaging the operatives with precision fire.

Through the chaos, Night caught a glimpse bof /bEthan carrying Jade toward a vehicle behind the store. Their eyes met briefly across the firefight. Night hesitated, wanting to follow, to confirm that Jade was truly alive. But the mission came first. He turned back to the fight, providing cover fire bas /bEthan disappeared with Jade.

The world came into focus slowly, like an old television warming up. Jade blinked against the thin light filtering through a cracked window. Her body felt heavy, disconnected, as if she were floating in water.

The ceiling above her was stained with water damage, the ster crumbling in corners. She was lying on a narrow cot with a thin mattress that smelled of mildew and sweat. The air was thick with humidity and the distinct scent of poverty–a mix of cooking boil/b, unwashed bodies, and desperation.

“Hey, came a soft voice beside her.

Jade turned her head slightly, wincing at the pain that shot through her neck and shoulder. Ethan sat on a wooden stool beside the bed, his face unshaven, dark circles under his eyesb. /bHe looked like he hadn’t slept in days.

b“/bWhere are we?‘ Her voice came out as a rasp.

“Still in Ethiopia. A slum on the outskirts bof /bAddis Ababa. Ethan reached for a water bottle, helping her lift her head to drink. “We couldn’t risk moving you any further. Your condition is not good.”

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