Chapter 186: Nowhere is Safe

 (Skylar's POV)

The jet hummed softly beneath me, the cabin dimly lit as we soared through the night. I stared out the window, the distant city lights of Abuja shrinking below.

I was leaving.

Not because I wanted to, but because Chris had made it clear—I wasn't safe in Nigeria.

I exhaled shakily, pressing my fingers against my temple. A sniper. An assassination attempt. It still didn't feel real. One second, I had been walking out of that meeting, and the next… a bullet had sliced through the air, a breath away from my skull.

I could still feel the rush of adrenaline in my veins, the cold sweat on my skin.

Across from me, my lead security officer, Agent Harris, kept his eyes locked on the door, his hand resting near his holstered weapon. He had barely left my side since the attack.

"We land in D.C. in six hours, ma'am," he said quietly.

I nodded but didn't answer. My mind was elsewhere.

Who ordered the hit?

It could have been anyone—a political enemy, a faction within Nigeria, or someone who simply wanted to send a message. But no one took a shot at a U.S. minister without expecting consequences.

And Chris?

He wasn't the kind of man to let this go.

My phone buzzed. I didn't have to look to know who it was.

I answered. "Chris."

His voice was low, controlled. "Where are you?"

"On the jet. Halfway across the Atlantic."

A pause. "Are you hurt?"

I swallowed. "No. But it was close."

Another pause. "Skylar… I'm going to find out who did this. And when I do, there won't be anywhere in the world they can hide."

I closed my eyes. "Chris, listen to me. This was a calculated attack. Someone wanted to provoke you. If you retaliate too aggressively, it could start something we can't contain."

Chris exhaled sharply. "They already started it. I'm just going to end it."

I ran a hand through my hair. "Please. Let's be smart about this."

He was silent for a moment. Then, finally, "Come home first. We'll talk."

I sighed in relief. "Okay."

But deep down, I knew—Chris had already decided what came next. And whoever had pulled that trigger…

Their days were numbered.