Chapter 34 – Beneath the Ashes
The temporary safehouse was tucked into the industrial backstreets of New Haven — a ghost building with no records, no mail, no name. Just four concrete walls, and silence.
Sophie stood near the cracked window, staring at the news headlines rolling across her burner phone.
“Mob Bosses Arrested in Multi-City Sweep.”
“Anonymous Whistleblower Leaks Billion-Dollar Cover-Up.”
“Where is Adrian Hartwell?”
She glanced back at him. He sat hunched over a dusty table, piecing together a rifle with calm, calculated movements. His eyes were hollow. Focused. Like a man who knew he could die and was fine with it.
“Adrian,” she said softly. “We did what we had to do. You don’t need to carry the world alone.”
He didn’t respond.
Instead, he reached for the photos Sop
