Chapter 56 Mila
Mila
We don’t go home.
We don’t stand down.
We don’t even breathe.
Because the moment we land—
It’s already waiting for us.
Zurich.
Private airfield.
Dark.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
Daniel steps off the helicopter first.
Then stops.
His body goes still.
Jase notices instantly.
Of course he does.
“What is it?” he asks.
Daniel doesn’t answer right away.
Then—
“Company.”
My grip tightens on the drive.
Because I see it too.
Black vehicles.
Waiting.
Engines running.
Doors open.
And men stepping out—
Not rushing.
Not aggressive.
Calm.
Confident.
Like they’ve already won.
One of them steps forward.
Older.
Sharp suit.
Cold eyes.
Power in every movement.
He doesn’t need to raise a weapon.
Because he is the weapon.
“Jase Dalton,” he says smoothly.
My blood runs cold.
Because he knows him.
Knows us.
Knows everything.
Jase steps slightly in front of me.
Shielding.
Always.
“Do I know you?” he asks flatly.
The man smiles faintly.
“No,” he says. “But I know you.”
Of course you do.
They always do.
His gaze shifts to me.
And something in his expression changes.
Interest.
Recognition.
Calculation.
“Mila Vescov,” he says.
My stomach tightens.
“You’ve been… difficult.”
I step forward anyway.
“I get that a lot.”
Jase’s hand brushes mine.
A warning.
Or a promise.
Maybe both.
The man chuckles softly.
“You have something that belongs to us.”
The air shifts.
Everyone feels it.
Weapons subtly adjust.
Positions tighten.
This is it.
The line.
The moment everything breaks.
“No,” I say calmly. “We don’t.”
His smile fades.
“Yes,” he says quietly. “You do.”
Daniel moves slightly beside me.
I feel it.
That tension again.
That question.
But then—
He steps forward.
Puts himself between us and them.
“You’re not taking it,” Daniel says.
Jase glances at him.
Surprised.
Just a little.
The man studies Daniel.
Then sighs.
“Disappointing.”
He lifts a hand.
And everything explodes.
Gunfire.
Chaos.
Movement.
I drop low, firing instantly.
Jase is right beside me.
Always.
Delta Five spreads out behind us, returning fire with brutal precision.
But these men—
They’re not normal.
They move like us.
Fight like us.
Trained.
Enhanced.
Prepared.
“They knew we’d come here!” Ethan shouts.
“Yeah,” Jase snaps. “No kidding!”
The man doesn’t move from his position.
Doesn’t fire.
Just watches.
Like this is all beneath him.
Like we’re nothing.
That was his mistake.
I push forward.
Aggressive.
Relentless.
Two down.
Three.
I close distance.
Jase is with me.
We move together like we always do now.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Just instinct.
Just trust.
Daniel shouts behind us.
“They’re trying to flank!”
Ronan cuts them off.
Efficient.
Deadly.
The fight tightens.
Closer.
More brutal.
More personal.
And then—
Jase reaches him.
The man.
The one in charge.
They collide hard.
Force meeting force.
The man is faster than he looks.
Stronger.
But Jase—
Jase is relentless.
Even injured.
They trade blows.
Brutal.
Precise.
No wasted movement.
I try to get to him—
But two operatives cut me off.
I take one down.
The second slams into me—
We hit the ground hard.
I twist.
Break his grip.
Drive my elbow into his throat.
Finish it.
I scramble up—
Just in time to see—
The man pull a blade.
And drive it toward Jase.
“JASE!”
Everything slows.
But not enough.
Never enough—
Until—
Daniel steps in.
Takes the hit.
The blade sinks into his side.
Jase reacts instantly.
Rage.
Pure.
Explosive.
He drives forward—
Disarms—
Breaks—
Ends it.
The man drops.
Still.
Gone.
Just like that.
Silence follows.
Heavy.
Final.
I run to them.
Jase is already dropping to his knees beside Daniel.
“Stay with me,” he growls.
Daniel exhales sharply.
“…told you,” he mutters weakly, “I’m not the bad guy…”
Jase huffs a rough breath.
“Yeah,” he says. “I’m starting to believe that.”
I press my hands to the wound.
“Don’t you dare die on me,” I snap.
Daniel gives a faint smile.
“No promises.”
Typical.
Around us—
The fight ends.
Delta Five stands.
Alive.
Victorious.
Barely.
But standing.
I look at Jase.
He looks at me.
Everything in that look—
Everything we’ve been through—
Everything we still are—
“This isn’t over,” I say quietly.
Jase nods.
Dark.
Certain.
“No,” he agrees. “But we just won this round.”