Chapter Thirty-Three: War, Fire, and What She Refuses to Deny
The ocean turned hostile.
Warships cut through the horizon like iron verdicts.
Drones descended in swarms.
Helicopters circled lower now, no longer watching.
Hunting.
Sirens echoed across the island.
And still, Cassandra stood at the cliff’s edge.
Unmoving.
Unyielding.
*****
Cassandra
Wind tore at her hair, but she did not step back.
“They think I’ll kneel.”
Jason moved to her right.
“They think wrong.”
Maxwell took her left.
“They think predictably.”
Lucien stood behind her, voice smooth but edged.
“They think this is politics.”
Bosco loaded a rifle with brutal calm.
“It’s not.”
Cassandra’s eyes burned.
“It’s personal.”
*****
First Strike
The first missile screamed downward.
Jason reacted instantly—sh
