Chapter 226: The Hunt Resumes

Ethan moved fast. He had already wasted enough time.

Stepping into the West Wing corridor, he tightened his grip on his phone. The situation had shifted—this wasn't just about bringing Skylar back anymore. It was about cleaning up his own mistake.

His mind replayed the last conversation with Chris. "Did I tell you to kill her?" The coldness in Chris's voice had sent a rare chill down Ethan's spine. He had miscalculated, and Chris Blackwood was not a man who tolerated miscalculations.

Now, Ethan had one job: find Skylar before someone else did.

He pushed through the secured doors leading to the intelligence hub beneath the White House. The dimly lit room was lined with monitors displaying live security feeds, satellite tracking, and encrypted communications.

A man in a dark suit turned as Ethan entered. Noah Carter. Former CIA. One of the few people Ethan trusted to get things done.

"You don't look happy," Noah remarked, glancing up from a screen.

"Because I'm not," Ethan replied. "Skylar's out. I need her location."

Noah raised an eyebrow but didn't question it. Instead, he turned to the surveillance feeds, fingers flying across the keyboard. "Traffic cams are being scrubbed. She's good, but she's not invisible. Give me a minute."

Ethan's jaw tightened. Sky, where the hell did you go?

Then, a flicker on the screen.

"Got something." Noah zoomed in. "South perimeter exit. Unregistered vehicle picked up near the staff lot. Could be her."

Ethan studied the grainy footage. A black sedan pulling away, tinted windows obscuring the driver. Not enough for a confirmation.

"Plates?"

"Fake," Noah said. "Already ran them—came back clean."

Ethan exhaled sharply. She had planned for this.

But she wasn't out of reach yet.

"Run facial recognition on traffic cameras. Nearest highway exits. She had a head start, but she's not gone."

Noah nodded, already pulling up more feeds. "You think she had outside help?"

Ethan didn't answer right away. He knew Skylar—she was smart, resourceful. But breaking out of this level of security? That took more than just brains.

It meant she wasn't alone.

His phone buzzed. A new message.

Unknown Number: "You're too late."

Ethan's blood ran cold.

Someone else was already in play.

And now?

The hunt had just gotten a lot more dangerous.