Chapter 54 Ethan
Ethan
“No!”
I’m already moving.
Boots hitting concrete hard as I close the distance—
I reach the edge—
Look down—
Nothing.
No body.
No impact.
Just empty air and shadows.
Then—
movement.
A rope sways below the ledge.
Slow.
Controlled.
Planned.
Of course it was.
“Damn it!”
My fist slams into the concrete, pain shooting up my arm—doesn’t matter.
Too late.
Again.
Always too late.
“Ava,” I say into comms, breath rough. “He’s gone.”
A beat—
Then—
“I know.”
Her voice is quieter now.
Thinner.
“I lost the signal when he dropped.”
I close my eyes.
Just for a second.
Force everything back into place.
“We’ll find him.”
Silence.
Then—
“That’s not the problem.”
My chest tightens.
“What do you mean?”
A breath.
Unsteady.
“I’ve been off their grid since I came back to you.”
Cold slides through me.
Slow.
Sharp.
“And?”
The word comes out harder than I mean it.
Silence stretches.
Too long.
“…I don’t know how much time I have.”