Chapter 132 The Safehouse — 9:00 PM
Chapter 132 The Safehouse — 9:00 PM
The new location was a farmhouse outside of Harrisburg. Abandoned. Isolated. Perfect.
Sophia stood on the porch, Victoria in her arms, watching the stars appear one by one.
Marcus joined her. “Kat's men are patrolling the perimeter. We have motion sensors set up a mile in every direction. If anyone comes within five miles, we'll know.”
Sophia nodded. “And Dimitri?”
“We lost him. He dumped the jacket somewhere outside of Scranton. He could be anywhere by now.”
Sophia closed her eyes. “He's going to tell Rafael about the farmhouse.”
“Not if we move before dawn.”
“We can't keep running, Marcus. We need to end this.”
Marcus was quiet for a moment. “Then what do you propose?”
Sophia opened her eyes. “I'm going to give Rafael what he wants.”
Marcus stared at her. “The USB?”
“No.” Sophia's voice was steel. “Me.”
Federal Detention Center — 11:30 PM
General Marcus Kane moved through the prison like a ghost.
Guards fell silently. Cameras went dark. Doors opened without a sound.
By the time Alexander heard the footsteps in the hallway, Kane was already outside his cell.
“Mr. Blackwood,” Kane said, his voice a low rumble. “Time to go.”
Alexander stood. “Helena sent you.”
“Helena called in a debt.” Kane produced a keycard and swiped it. The cell door slid open. “Come with me if you want to see your daughter again.”
Alexander stepped into the hallway.
Twenty minutes later, he was in the back of a black SUV, speeding away from the prison, a burner phone in his hand.
He dialed Sophia.
She answered on the first ring. “Alexander?”
“I'm out.” His voice was rough. “Where are you?”
“Harrisburg. But Alexander—I'm going to meet Rafael. Tomorrow. Alone.”
Alexander's blood ran cold. “No. Absolutely not.”
“It's the only way. He wants the USB. He wants me. If I go to him, I can end this.”
“Or he'll kill you.”
“Then at least Victoria will be safe.”
Alexander gripped the phone. “Sophia, listen to me. I'm coming to you. Don't do anything until I get there.”
“You don't even know where I am.”
“I'll find you. I always do.”
The line was quiet for a moment.
“Alexander,” Sophia said softly. “If something happens to me—”
“Nothing is going to happen to you. I won't let it.”
“Just promise me. Promise me you'll take care of Victoria.”
Alexander's throat tightened. “You're going to take care of her yourself. Tomorrow. And the next day. And every day after that.”
Sophia's voice cracked. “I love you.”
“I know.” Alexander's eyes burned. “I love you too. Now tell me where you are.”
The Farmhouse — Midnight
Sophia gave him the address.
Then she sat on the porch, Victoria asleep inside, and waited.
Claire appeared beside her. “Alexander is coming?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think he can stop Rafael?”
Sophia looked out at the dark fields. “I don't know. But I'm tired of running. I'm tired of hiding. Tomorrow, I'm going to look Rafael Castillo in the eye and tell him exactly what I think of him.”
Claire sat beside her. “And if he tries to kill you?”
Sophia smiled—cold, sharp, dangerous.
“Then I'll kill him first.”
Rafael's Estate — Same Time
Rafael stood in his study, looking at the photograph in his hand.
Sophia. Victoria. Alexander.
A family he was about to destroy.
Dimitri Volkov knelt on the floor, bleeding from a cut above his eye.
“You failed me,” Rafael said quietly.
“I tried to warn her,” Dimitri gasped. “I tried to get the USB—”
“You tried to save yourself.” Rafael set the photograph down. “You told Sophia about my connection to Cross. You gave her evidence that could destroy everything I've built.”
Dimitri's eyes widened. “I can fix this. I can get the USB back—”
“You can't fix anything.” Rafael picked up a letter opener from his desk. “But you can send a message.”
Dimitri screamed.
The sound didn't carry past the walls.
Dawn bled across the Pennsylvania fields like a warning.
Sophia hadn't slept. She stood at the window, Victoria in her arms, watching the horizon turn from black to gray to blood orange.
The sky looked bruised. Appropriate.
Claire sat at the kitchen table, her phone face-down, untouched. She hadn't spoken in hours.
Every few minutes, she'd look at Sophia, then look away guilt carved into every line of her face.
Marcus paced the porch, checking and rechecking his weapon.
Kat Volkov leaned against the wall, arms crossed, eyes half-closed but missing nothing.
Her men were positioned in the treeline, invisible.
Then—headlights.
Sophia's heart stopped.
Three vehicles approached slowly, their lights cutting through the early morning fog.
Marcus raised a hand, signaling Kat's men to hold.
The lead SUV stopped fifty yards from the farmhouse.
The door opened.
And Alexander Blackwood stepped out.
He looked different Thinner and Harder. His eyes swept the property the treeline, the roof, the windows assessing threats the way he always had.
But when his gaze found Sophia in the window, something softened.
Just a flicker. But she saw it.
Sophia handed Victoria to Claire. "Take her to the back room. Don't come out until I call you."
Claire nodded, clutching the baby close. "Be careful."
Sophia walked outside.
The morning air was cold. Her breath fogged in front of her face.
Alexander crossed the distance between them in long strides, and when he reached her, he didn't speak.
He just pulled her into his arms.
Sophia stiffened for a moment then collapsed against him, her face buried in his chest, her hands gripping his jacket like he might disappear.
"You came," she whispered.
"I told you I would." His voice was rough, vibrating through his chest. "I'll always come."
They stood like that for a long moment, the world holding its breath.
Then Alexander pulled back, his hands framing her face. "You look exhausted."
"I've been running for three days."
"You're done running." His jaw tightened. "Where is he? Where's Rafael?"
"We don't know. He went dark after Dimitri—" Sophia stopped. "Dimitri Volkov. Kat's husband.
He was working for Rafael. He escaped last night. We think he's heading back to him."
Alexander's eyes went cold. "Then we find him before he finds us."
Marcus approached, extending a hand. Alexander shook it a brief, hard clasp between men who had seen too much.
"Good to have you back," Marcus said.
"I'm not back." Alexander's voice was flat. "I'm a fugitive. General Kane broke me out. The FBI is probably looking for me right now."
Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Then why are you here?"
"Because my daughter is in that farmhouse." Alexander looked toward the window where Claire stood, Victoria in her arms. "And I'm not letting Rafael Castillo get within a mile of her."