Chapter 26 Jase
Jase
Location: Military Base — Unauthorized Exit
Pain is a constant now.
Sharp.
Burning.
Unrelenting.
Good.
It keeps me focused.
I shouldn’t be on my feet.
That’s what they told me.
Multiple times.
Very clearly.
Didn’t stick.
I shove open the service exit door, stepping out into the cold night air.
Every movement pulls at the stitches in my side.
Every step threatens to drop me to my knees.
I don’t slow down.
I don’t stop.
Because she’s out there.
Alone.
And every second I’m not moving—
is a second closer to losing her.
“She’s heading east.”
The voice comes from the shadows.
Cal Johnson.
Leaning against the wall like he’s been waiting for me.
Of course he has.
I don’t even look surprised.
“Tracking how?” I ask.
My voice is rough.
Still recovering.
Still dangerous.
“Not officially,” Cal replies.
A hint of a smirk.
“Which means you didn’t hear it from me.”
Figures.
Bootsteps echo behind me.
More than one.
I turn slightly.
And there they are.
The rest of them.
Ethan Cross.
Ronan Pierce.
Jonah Elliot.
Lance Levine.
Jason Thorn.
Delta Five.
“I guess you know we can get in trouble for this?”
We are out of the service.
We don’t have to follow protocol.
Even though we run secret missions for our President.
They aren’t even pretending not to follow me.
My gaze sharpens.
Ronan pushes off the wall.
Slow.
Controlled.
That quiet, dangerous presence he carries?
Yeah.
That hasn’t changed.
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” he says.
Jonah shrugs.
“Command said stand down.”
A beat.
“We disagreed.”
I let that settle.
Let it sink in.
Because this?
This isn’t small.
This is career-ending. The Delta Five could be shut down for less.
Court-martial level.
“You’re risking everything,” I say.
Ethan meets my eyes.
Steady.
Unshaken.
“Mila already is.”
That hits.
Harder than it should.
Silence stretches between us.
Heavy.
Charged.
“She didn’t run,” I say finally.
Low.
Certain.
Cal nods once.
“We know.”
Lance steps forward, tossing me something.
I catch it on instinct.
Pain flares.
I ignore it.
Keys.
“Vehicle’s fueled,” Lance says.
“No trackers. No digital trail.”
Jason cracks his neck.
“We figured you wouldn’t sit this one out.”
A breath leaves me.
Slow.
Controlled.
But inside?
Everything shifts.
Because I’m not alone in this.
Not anymore.
“She’s being hunted,” I say.
“They’ll throw everything at her.”
Ronan’s expression darkens.
“They already are.”
That gets my attention.
“What do you mean?”
Ethan pulls out a tablet.
Brings up a map.
Multiple pings.
Moving.
Closing.
“Three teams confirmed,” he says.
“Two we can’t identify.”
A pause.
Then—
“And one we can.”
My jaw tightens.
“Ford,” I say.
No one answers.
They don’t need to.
Because we all know.
“She won’t let them take her,” Jonah says.
“No,” I agree.
My voice drops.
Cold.
Certain.
“She won’t.”
And that’s the problem.
Because Mila doesn’t surrender.
She doesn’t hesitate.
She doesn’t break.
She burns.
And if they corner her—
She’ll take everything down with her.
Including herself.
My grip tightens on the keys.
“That’s not happening.”
Ronan tilts his head slightly.
“Then we’d better move.”
I step forward.
Pain screaming.
Body threatening to give out.
I don’t let it.
Because this isn’t about me anymore.
It never was.
“She thinks she’s protecting me,” I say.
More to myself now.
Cal glances over.
“And she’s wrong.”
I look up.
Meet his eyes.
“Yeah,” I say.
Voice low.
Deadly.
“She is.”
I move toward the vehicle.
The team falling in around me.
Not behind.
Not ahead.
Beside.
And just like that—
This isn’t a rescue anymore.
This is a hunt.