Beneath Her Charm

moved at dawn, narrowly avoiding a Blackthorn patrol. Now, they stood in the ruins of a

red pen. "This is it," he said, his voice steady despite the weight of the

ng the map. "And what happens when we get t

n't be an idiot. We go in quiet, we

g about infiltrating a covert facility guarded by m

the corner, finally spoke. "If you want out, now's you

e all this-his quiet, uneventful existence. He could walk away, leave these people to their miss

aid finally, h

f approval in his eyes. "

hts racing. The plan was straightforward: Ivy and the scarred man would disable the outer defenses, while Ethan and Dar

Remember, we only have one shot at this. Stay focused,

lowed har

er wall with practiced ease. Dare's heart pounded as he followed Ethan thr

hick with the hum of machinery, and the faint glow of

hispered, leading D

ffled against the concrete floor. Dare's nerves were

-to-face with a locked steel door. Ethan pulled a sm

said, his fingers fly

the sense of being watched gnawi

d Ethan pushed it aside,

lled out, his voi

a figure stepped forward. Dare's breath caught as he reco

" he wh

sion unreadable. "You shouldn

replied. "Blackthorn is closing i

gaze shifting to Da

son we're her

re, the sound of heavy boo

ir earpieces. "You've got company-at lea

ed. "It's too late. They

t sank. "Wh

s," she said, handing it to Ethan. "It's everything-every file, every p

ad. "We're not lea

h desperation. "I made a deal. They let me live as long

're dead," Dare sai

made a decision. "We'll figure it out late

s arm, pulling he

out, the sound deafenin

mbling as blood blos

ted, catching h

n the doorway, his rifle r

ssed his hands to Elena's w

gasped, her voice weak.

irmly. "We're not

growing louder. Ivy appeared, her face se

ut of the room, the group moving as fast as they could. T

erupted behind them. The scarred man turned,

his voice echoin

st to the heat of the facility. They didn't stop running until they

looked down at Elena, her

d, her voice barely audible.