Chapter 266: End It

Chris leaned back against the hospital bed, his fingers moving swiftly over his phone screen. His patience had run out.

He typed a single message.

"End her."

A second later, Ethan's phone buzzed.

Across the room, Ethan pulled it out, glanced at the screen, then looked up at Chris. His expression didn't change, but there was a brief pause before he slipped the phone back into his pocket.

"Consider it done," Ethan said.

Chris exhaled slowly, his gaze shifting toward Skylar. She was watching him carefully, but he couldn't tell if she was trying to read him or judge him.

"Status on General Marshall?" he asked, voice calm but sharp.

Cole, standing near the door, checked his tablet. "Still missing. His convoy went dark about thirty minutes ago. No communications. No distress signals."

Chris's jaw tightened. That wasn't a coincidence.

"Find him," he ordered. "If he's a liability, handle it."

Cole nodded. "Understood."

Ethan turned toward the door, already preparing to carry out Chris's command. But before he could leave, Skylar spoke.

"Who did you just order him to kill?"

Chris's eyes flicked toward her. He didn't answer immediately, letting the weight of the question settle.

Then, with the faintest smirk, he said—

"Does it matter?"