Semua Bab Bound by His Promise: Bab 71 - Bab 77

JAKE’S POVHunters don’t announce themselves.They study.They wait.They learn how you breathe before they decide where to cut.Adrian Vale wasn’t reckless enough to strike right after Chapter 71.Hindi siya ganung klase.He liked patterns.Which meant—habang busy ang mundo kay Rhea, busy rin siyang nagmamapa ng paligid namin.I felt it in my bones.“You feel that?” tanong ko kay Lucas habang tinitingnan ang surveillance feeds.Lucas didn’t look up.“Yes.”Rhea was across the room, calm, scrolling through reports like walang nangyayari.“She’s too exposed,” sabi ni Lucas.“And that’s exactly why he’ll come in sideways.”I checked exits.No alarms.No breaches.That’s what scared me.RHEA’S POVKapag matagal kang hinahabol, natutunan mong pakinggan ang instinct mo.At sa sandaling ‘yon—

RHEA’S POVMay mga desisyon na hindi mo kailangang sabihin nang malakas.Ramdam na agad ng mundo kapag tumanggi ka.Pagbalik namin sa safehouse, walang nagsalita agad. Hindi dahil wala kaming sasabihin—kundi dahil alam naming may darating na kapalit.Adrian Vale didn’t wait for answers.He punished hesitation.“Lock all channels,” sabi ni Lucas habang mabilis na nagta-type.“Something’s off.”Jake was pacing.“He won’t hit us head-on,” sabi niya.“He’ll take something we can’t afford to lose.”I sat down slowly.“I already chose,” sabi ko.They both looked at me.“I’m not aligning with him,” dagdag ko.“Even if it costs.”LUCAS’ POVThe first hit came quietly.Not an explosion.Not a threat.A retraction.Three major outlets pulled their support stories simultaneously.Then—Emails.

RHEA’S POVTahimik ang mundo bago sumabog.Yung klase ng katahimikan na alam mong panandalian lang—parang huling hinga bago ka lunukin ng dilim.Nakatayo kami sa gilid ng lumang access road, halos kainin na ng damo at hamog. Sa harap namin, nakatago sa pagitan ng bundok at kakahuyan, ang black site na sinasabi ni Lucas.Walang pangalan.Walang ilaw sa labas.Pero ramdam mo—may mali.“This is it,” bulong ko.Jake adjusted his gear beside me, jaw clenched. Hindi siya nagsasalita, pero ramdam ko ang galit na kinikimkim niya. Galit na pinipilit niyang gawing lakas.Lucas checked the drone feed.“Two guards on the east,” sabi niya.“Rotational. Blind spot every ninety seconds.”Tumango ako.“Ninety seconds is all we need.”O so I told myself.JAKE’S POVEvery step forward felt like I was walking into a trap.Pero kahit ganon—kahit anong