Chapter 35 Ethan
Ethan
The shift happens fast.
One second—quiet.
The next—
war again.
Jonah already has the screen up when we step in.
Data scrolls fast.
Maps flicker.
Red markers blinking like warning lights.
Ronan stands at the center of it, arms folded, eyes locked on the screen.
“What’ve we got?”
Jonah doesn’t look away.
“The list is active.”
Beside me, Ava stills.
I feel it before I see it.
Her breath catching.
Her focus sharpening.
“What does that mean?” Aaron asks.
Jonah taps the screen.
Images snap into place.
Faces.
Names.
Locations.
Two marked in red.
“They’ve already moved,” Jonah says quietly. “First wave’s done.”
Silence drops.
Heavy.
Controlled.
No panic.
Just understanding.
“Next targets?” Ronan asks.
Jonah zooms out.
The map expands.
More markers.
More names.
“Multiple,” he says. “Heads of state. Military command. This isn’t isolated.”
No.
It’s not.
It’s everywhere.
Ava steps forward.
No hesitation now.
No weakness left in her stance.
“This wasn’t supposed to happen all at once,” she says.
Everyone looks at her.
She doesn’t flinch.
“They’re accelerating.”
“Why?” Aaron asks.
Her gaze flicks to me.
Then back to the screen.
“Me.”
The room goes still again.
Yeah.
That tracks.
“They know you’re out,” I say.
She nods once.
“And they’re forcing the timeline.”
Jonah pulls up another alert.
Flashing.
Urgent.
“Next hit in twelve hours.”
The room tightens.
Everything snapping into place.
No hesitation left.
Ronan turns.
Decision already made.
“We move now.”
Aaron grins, sharp.
“Finally.”
I glance at Ava.
She meets my gaze without hesitation.
No fear.
Just fire.
“You’re not sitting this one out,” I say.
Her lips curve.
“Not a chance.”
Good.
Because I don’t want her anywhere else.
Ronan nods once.
“Gear up. We leave in ten.”
The room explodes into motion.
Weapons pulled.
Comms checked.
Routes mapped.
Plans forming in real time.
War again.
But this time—
she’s not missing.
She’s right beside me.
And anyone on that list—
anyone coming for them—
They’re about to find out exactly what happens when they pick the wrong fight.