Chapter 208

"Activate stealth mode," he instructed.

At once, the car shimmered before fading into full transparency around him. The hum of its systems sharpened before leveling out as it lifted into the open air.

Within minutes, Paris came into view below—a hollow shell of its former self. Where there should have been light and life was nothing but empty streets patrolled by the government's army. And that's the whole point of it.

As Xavier guided the car lower over deserted rooftops and abandoned boulevards, he shook his head at how quiet everything was here now. Whatever had erupted earlier, had left its mark on this place—or maybe this was just what life looked like when someone like Jean-Claude decided to dig their claws in too deep.

For now, though, Xavier pushed those thoughts aside and focused ahead. Orders were orders: get Roman and Hank out of here and back to base without screwing anything up—or at least without making it worse than it already was.