bChapter /bb327 /b

Author’s POV:

:

The winter sun nted through the market’s makeshift canopy, warming Jade’s face as she sat at a low table in the crowded farmers market. It had been over two weeks since they’d fled that slum, since Tolosa’s death. Her shoulder still ached when she moved too quickly, but at least she could use her arm again.

The marketce hummed with activity around them–vendors shouting prices, customers haggling, the aroma of spices and freshly baked bread filling the air. Colorful stalls crowded together underrge stic tarps that provided shelter from the elements. Despite the bsimple /bsurroundings, there was somethingforting about the genuine humanity of it all.

Jade studied Ethan sitting across from her, his nearly six–foot–three frameically oversized for this cramped food stall. His long legs barely fit under the tableb, /bsticking out awkwardly into the narrow walkway. The baseball cap and fake beard he wore bas /ba disguise made her want tough.

“You really think that beard helpsb?/bb” /bshe asked, taking a bite of fresh bread.

Ethan’s eyes remained serious beneath his cap. “Security is always the priority.”

“That disguise is basically useless against Shadow Organization.”

“I know,” he replied calmly.

“Yet you still wear it.”

His lips curved slightly. “Better than nothing. Besides, I saw you smile when I bought it earlier.”

Jade pulled her hoodie closer around herself, the material soft against her healing skin. Over these past two weeks, they’d managed to stay mobile and alert. Her counter–surveince skills had kept them one step ahead of Shadow’s operatives. If Ethan didn’t know better, he might have thought she was one of Shadow’s own operatives, trained at the highest level.

Her gaze drifted across the market stalls, and she suddenly pointed toward a clothing vendor. “That purple midi skirt over thereb. /bAnd that white shawl.” She continued, gesturing toward another stall. “With that red and white hat with the veil. You’d look stunning in women’s clothes, Mr. Haxton.”

“You think a six–three ‘woman‘ with my build wouldn’t stand out in Ethiopia?” he raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in his eyesb. /b

“Oh, you’d definitely stand out,” Jade admitted bluntly. “But isn’t that half the fun? Giving me something worth watching?”

He shook his head. “If I ran into Shadow operatives wearing a skirt, I’d be at a serious disadvantage. Couldn’t even run properly.”

“Who said anything about running?b” /bshe smirked. “You could just kill them withughter. Though they’re trained not tough, so maybe

not.”

Ethan genuinelyughed, his eyes studying her face, which had grown thinner and paler over the weeks. “You really enjoy teasing meb, /bdon’t you?”

“Is that a problem?b” /bshe challenged.

10:35 Fri, bOct /b3 M

He nodded slightly, ihis /iexpression sincere. “Not at all.”

Jade continued eating breakfast, suddenly noticing how Ethan’s fake beard interfered with his ability to eat properly. The adhesive edges kept catching bits of food, and he had to maneuver awkwardly to take each bite. Without warning, she reached over and yanked it off.

He rubbed his face where the adhesive had pulled at his skin, then carefully picked up the beard she’d tossed on the table and tucked it into his jacket pocket.

“How considerate of you,” she remarked, assuming he’d throw it awayter.

Ethan continued eating and calmly replied, “I’m keeping it. I’ll use it again, stick it on, and make you itch.”

He raised an eyebrow at her, his eyes holding a yful challenge and something else she couldn’t quite identify–something that felt like flirtation.

As they finished their meal, Jade’s gaze caught movement through a gap between stalls. An American man with cold, calcting eyes methodically scanned the market, his expression predatory. His gaze swept across the crowd like ba /bscalpel, dissecting each face.

Her body tensed instantly. “Ethan,” she said quietly.

Ethan had barely looked up before Jade was on her feet. He immediately became alert, following her lead. Tracking her line of sight, he spotted the American man–about five–foot–nine with a distinctive mole on his chin.

The operative continued searching the market, then, finding nothing, turned to leave through an alley. They followed at a safe distance, moving silently through the crowd. Ethan’s eyes never left their target as they navigated the market’s narrow pathways.

Suddenly, the operative sensed something and whirled around to find Ethan directly behind him. His eyes widened with recognition.

The killer recognized Ethan immediately and decided not to engage. He spun to escape, only to find Jade blocking his path, her stance casual but ready.

When he saw her, fear shed across his face. He knew exactly who she was, what she was capable of. Even with her injury,bined with Ethan’s assistance, the operative realized he was outmatched.

Before he could signal to potential backup, Jade attacked without hesitation, targeting his vulnerable points. Despite her healing shoulder, she easily neutralized his initial defense, striking with precision born from years of training.

The operative was overwhelmed by their coordinated assault. After several exchanges, Ethannded a powerful kick that sent the man crashing into the alley wall, coughing blood and losing half his fighting capacity. The sound of his body hitting the brick echoed in the narrow space.

He barely dodged Ethan’s follow–up strike and attempted to counter, but Jade sliced through the tendons in his hand with surgical precision. His scream echoed in the narrow alley, the sound cutting off abruptly as he tried to control his reaction.

Terror filled his eyes as he repeatedly tried to escape, but they had him cornered in the tight space. Each attempt was met with calcted violence. Soon, Jade severed the tendons in his other hand as well, rendering both arms useless. She deliberately avoided fatal points, making him bleed slowly, driving her knife into pressure points that maximized pain without killing him outright.

Only after the operative’s desperate struggles weakened did she finally end his suffering.

Jade crouched before the body and used her knife to pry open his bloody mouth, discovering a ck monitoring device the size of a

b10:35 /bbFri/bb, /bbOct /bb3 /bM

fingernail hidden inside. fn1fef ???? ????s? ???????s ?? F?nd-Novel/fn1fef

Looking at the device, she spoke clearly: ‘SPECTER.” Her voice was ice cold. “You’re next.”

The scene must have appeared macabre, but she knew her words had reached their intended recipient through the tiny device.

Thousands of miles away, Jade’s voice echoed through a vast chamber with marble floors and high ceilings. The space was dimly lit, creating dramatic shadows across the luxurious furnishings.

“SPECTER, you’re next.”

*SPECTER, you’re next.”

“SPECTER…”

Her threat, filled with murderous intent, was yed repeatedly as SPECTER listened with the appreciation one might give to a violin concerto. He sat in a high–backed leather chair, his fingers steepled before him, eyes closed in concentration.

After a long while, he finally spoke, his tone nostalgic: “Her voice… it sounds just like her.”

Then he turned to the young man beside him, a man with sharp, lean features who stood at attention, waiting for orders.

“Since you want to stay, you may. You don’t need to return to the Sleepers. Join Shadow Group and take Dusk’s position.”

“Yes, sir,” Milo replied simply.

SPECTER gave him a meaningful look. “Don’t be too eager. The Organization isn’t an easy ce to survive.”

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