Chapter 32: No More Running

“Get down!”

Ethan wrapped an arm around Ava and pulled her behind the porch railing as another bullet tore through the wooden pillar.

The forest exploded with gunfire.

Men in black tactical gear emerged from the trees.

At least twenty of them.

Maybe more.

Ava’s heart slammed against her ribs.

“They found us.”

Adrian appeared beside them, gun drawn.

“No kidding.”

Another bullet shattered a nearby window.

Glass sprayed across the porch.

Inside the cabin, Damien shouted.

“We need to move!”

Ethan fired twice into the trees.

One of the attackers fell.

But three more immediately took his place.

They just kept coming.

Disciplined.

Organized.

Relentless.

These weren’t hired thugs.

These were trained soldiers.

The Circle wasn’t playing games anymore.

They had come to end this.

Inside the cabin, chaos erupted.

Damien and Daniel were barricading the doors.

Adrian was checking ammunition.

Ava stood frozen near the fireplace.

Watching.

Listening.

Waiting.

And suddenly she was angry.

Angrier than she had ever been.

Everyone was fighting around her.

Protecting her.

Deciding for her.

Again.

Always again.

“Ava.”

Ethan grabbed her arm.

“We have to leave.”

She looked at him.

“No.”

His expression hardened.

“This isn’t the time.”

“No.”

“Ava.”

“I’m tired of running.”

The room went silent.

Even Adrian looked at her.

“I’m tired of hiding.”

Another gunshot echoed outside.

“I’m tired of everyone risking their lives while I stand around doing nothing.”

Ethan stared at her.

“Ava, this isn’t your fight.”

The words hit her like a slap.

Something inside her snapped.

“Not my fight?”

Her voice rose.

“The Circle is hunting me.”

Silence.

“My father was murdered because of this.”

Another step forward.

“My mother is being held hostage because of this.”

Another step.

“My husband was nearly killed because of this.”

Ethan froze.

“And somehow this isn’t my fight?”

Nobody answered.

Because nobody could.

For the first time, Ava wasn’t the victim.

She wasn’t the woman waiting to be rescued.

She wasn’t the heir everyone wanted to protect.

She was furious.

And she was done being treated like a child.

A loud explosion rocked the cabin.

The front wall cracked.

Dust rained from the ceiling.

Damien cursed.

“They’re bringing the house down.”

Ethan immediately grabbed Ava’s hand.

“We’re leaving.”

This time she didn’t argue.

Not because she agreed.

Because she had a plan.

And she wasn’t telling anyone yet.

Minutes later, they escaped through the back of the cabin.

The forest was still dark.

The sun had barely risen.

The Circle’s men were concentrated around the front.

Giving them a narrow escape route.

The group moved quickly through the trees.

Ethan stayed beside Ava.

Never more than a few steps away.

Never letting go of her hand.

As though he was afraid she’d disappear.

Again.

The thought made her chest tighten.

Because despite everything…

She still loved him.

And that was the most dangerous thing of all.

Nearly an hour later, they reached an abandoned ranger station deep in the forest.

The building was old.

Small.

But hidden.

For now, it would do.

The moment they entered, Damien locked the doors.

Adrian checked the windows.

Daniel sat heavily in a chair.

Exhausted.

Nobody spoke.

Everyone was thinking the same thing.

Elena.

Richard.

Blackwater Church.

Time was running out.

Then Ava stood.

“I’ll go.”

Every head turned.

“No.”

Ethan’s answer came instantly.

“I’m serious.”

“So am I.”

Ava folded her arms.

“If the Circle wants me, then I go.”

“No.”

“Ethan—”

“No.”

The room filled with tension.

Ava stepped closer.

“They’re threatening my mother.”

“And I’m not sacrificing you.”

Her eyes filled with frustration.

“You don’t get to decide that.”

His jaw tightened.

“Actually, I do.”

The old Ethan.

The protective Ethan.

The infuriating Ethan.

The man who always carried the weight alone.

Ava looked at him.

Really looked at him.

Then she asked quietly,

“Do you trust me?”

The question caught him off guard.

“What?”

“Do you trust me?”

Silence.

Then Ethan answered.

“With my life.”

Ava nodded.

“Then trust me to make my own decisions.”

For the first time, Ethan had no response.

Across town…

Inside Blackwater Church…

Richard sat tied to a wooden chair.

Blood trickled from a cut above his eyebrow.

Hours had passed.

The Founder stood near the stained-glass window.

Watching the sunrise.

Calm.

Patient.

Dangerous.

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

Richard laughed weakly.

“Which one?”

The Founder turned.

“The girl.”

Richard’s smile faded.

“Leave her out of this.”

The Founder chuckled.

“Too late.”

His eyes darkened.

“Her father involved her the moment he signed that document.”

Richard looked away.

Because he knew it was true.

The Founder slowly approached.

“Tell me where it is.”

“No.”

The Founder sighed.

Then nodded toward the opposite side of the room.

Richard followed his gaze.

And froze.

Elena.

Bound to a chair.

Bruised.

Terrified.

Alive.

Richard’s heart sank.

The Founder smiled.

“You always did have a weakness for her.”

Richard looked furious.

“Touch her and—”

“And what?”

The Founder laughed.

“You’re in no position to make threats.”

Then he leaned closer.

Very close.

Close enough that only Richard could hear.

When he spoke, Richard’s face lost all color.

“No.”

The Founder smiled.

“Oh yes.”

For the first time in years…

Richard looked truly afraid.

Back at the ranger station…

Ava stood near the window.

Lost in thought.

Then she noticed something.

A folded piece of paper sticking out of Ethan’s jacket pocket.

She frowned.

It looked old.

Very old.

Curiosity got the better of her.

She carefully pulled it free.

Then unfolded it.

The moment she read the first line, her blood ran cold.

Because the document wasn’t addressed to Ethan.

Or Richard.

Or the Circle.

It was addressed to her.

And it had been written by her real father.