Chapter 29: Shadows in the Sky

The private jet sliced through the night sky, a ghost in the clouds. Below them, the distant city lights flickered like dying embers. Behind them, the burning airfield still smoldered, the echoes of gunfire and chaos lingering in Liam's mind.

Liam sat rigidly in the leather seat, his fingers tapping against the armrest. The sniper. His thoughts kept circling back to her—the way she moved, the deadly precision, the unmistakable familiarity in her gaze.

Seraphina lounged nearby, idly flipping a dagger between her fingers. "You look like you've seen a ghost," she mused.

Nathan collapsed into the seat across from him. "Not just a ghost. A phantom from his past."

Liam exhaled sharply. Was she? He wanted to dismiss the idea, but deep down, something told him this wasn't just a contract killer.

Alec's voice crackled from the cockpit. "We're on course. ETA to the island: one hour."

Nathan leaned forward. "You think she's connected to Dante?"

Seraphina smirked. "Or worse—she's someone from your past."

Liam's jaw tightened. He had buried the past, or so he thought. If she was linked to him, then this was more than just Dante's revenge.

Then, the jet hit turbulence—except this wasn't turbulence.

The warning alarms blared.

---

Alec's voice was sharp. "Unidentified aircraft. Six o'clock. And it's gaining fast."

Liam rushed to the cockpit, peering at the radar screen. A black jet, sleek and deadly, was closing in on them.

Seraphina's smirk widened. "Well, well. Looks like they weren't done playing with us."

Nathan frowned. "Dante wouldn't send a jet after us."

Liam's gut twisted. This wasn't Dante. This was her.

The radio crackled.

Then, a voice came through.

"Liam… I told you this wasn't over."

The cabin turned to ice. Liam gripped the radio. "Who the hell are you?"

A soft chuckle. "You already know."

Liam's grip tightened. Memories he had long buried clawed at the surface. A face. A name. A past he had tried to forget.

And then, she spoke again. "You have something that belongs to me."

Nathan narrowed his eyes. "What the hell is she talking about?"

Liam's mind raced. The silver locket. The hidden inheritance. The secret his father died protecting.

Before he could respond—the black jet fired.

---

Missiles streaked through the night, locked onto their jet.

"BRACE!" Alec shouted, yanking the controls.

Their jet dove, narrowly avoiding the explosion as fire bloomed behind them.

Nathan cursed. "She's not playing around!"

Seraphina grinned. "Then let's return the favor."

Liam grabbed the intercom. "Alec, can we outrun them?"

Alec's hands were steady. "Not for long. But I can get us close enough to do some damage."

Nathan glanced at Liam. "We still have those countermeasures?"

Liam nodded. "Ready when you are."

Nathan's eyes darkened. "Then let's turn this into a hunt."

---

The black jet twisted mid-air, moving with inhuman precision.

Liam watched in disbelief. No normal pilot could pull off those maneuvers.

The warning alarm blared again. Another missile locked onto them.

Alec growled. "Deploying flares!"

Bright countermeasures exploded from their jet, diverting the missile. A split-second save.

Nathan slammed a fist against the panel. "We can't just dodge forever! We need to hit back."

Seraphina smirked. "You read my mind."

She reached for a hidden compartment beneath her seat, pulling out a high-powered sniper rifle.

Liam raised an eyebrow. "Why do you have that on a private jet?"

Seraphina winked. "A girl's gotta be prepared."

She climbed into the emergency hatch, bracing against the wind. The cold bit into her skin, the sky roaring around her.

Then, she locked onto the enemy jet's cockpit.

The moment she had a clean shot—she fired.

The bullet slammed against reinforced glass, cracking it but not shattering it.

Then, the black jet did the impossible.

It twisted mid-air—a perfect spiral—and swung behind them again.

Alec swore. "That's impossible! No pilot can do that."

Liam's stomach dropped. Unless that pilot wasn't ordinary.

The radio crackled.

"I expected more from you, Liam."

Her voice was smooth, almost amused.

Then she whispered a name that sent ice through his veins.

His mother's name.

Liam's blood ran cold. "Who the hell are you?"

She chuckled. "You're not ready for that answer yet."

Then, just as suddenly as it appeared—the black jet vanished into the storm clouds.

Nathan exhaled. "They're gone."

Seraphina frowned. "But why? They had us."

Liam clenched his fists. She was playing with them.

And the worst part?

She knew things about his past that he didn't.

Liam stared into the dark sky, pulse pounding.

Who was she?

And why did he feel like this was only the beginning?

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