The safe house was a ghost from a forgotten past.
A crumbling cabin hidden deep in the forest, half-swallowed by ivy and shadow. No lights. No cameras. No footprints.
Exactly what they needed.
Adrian kicked the warped door open with his boot and carried Valentina inside.
The air was thick with dust and old wood. But it was shelter.
He laid her gently on the battered sofa. She stirred, wincing, but her eyes fluttered open, locking onto his.
Still here.
Still fighting.
Adrian exhaled the breath he'd been holding for what felt like hours.
"You’ll be alright," he said, more a promise to himself than to her.
Valentina didn’t speak, but the faint squeeze of his hand was answer enough.
He moved quickly.
He found a rusted first-aid kit buried beneath the kitchen sink. The supplies were
