The congested traffic of Washington D.C. pulsed like the heartbeat of a city that never paused. Michael Bennett blended into the crowd of pedestrians, his sharp eyes scanning everything. Beside him, Ashley walked calmly, her gaze occasionally sweeping over their surroundings. Finn had already split off earlier, positioning himself at a vantage point to monitor from afar, while Rachel remained in their hideout—a decision Michael still considered the safest.
The paranoia that had haunted him since Daniel Hayes’s betrayal now surged to the surface; every shadow felt like a threat, every glance a possible spy. He could no longer trust anyone fully, not even those who had long been his closest allies. That creeping doubt, that whisper of mistrust, was a heavy burden on his shoulders.
They arr
