They didn't stay in Casablanca.
Within the hour, Julian and Ava were on a private train heading north toward Tangier, the stolen flash drive wrapped tight in Ava's scarf. One of the men they left behind was awake and angry—and Julian was sure more were coming.
Ava sat in the window seat, watching the Moroccan countryside blur past in gold and dust. "We can't keep outrunning her."
Julian nodded. "We're not. We're going to end this in Lisbon. That's where she's rebuilding."
"Then we make it public?"
"No. First, we take away her power. Then we *end* her story."
***
By the time they reached Tangier, Reed had messaged:
*She knows you took the drive. She's activated someone close. Watch your six.*
Julian reread it three times.
Someone *close*. That meant someone who already had access. Someone who *knew them*.
He looked at Ava. "There's a leak."
She stiffened. "Reed?"
"No. He's too careful. And he's hiding too deep. But someone we've touched… someone we trusted."
Ava's mind raced. "Viktor?"
"He gave us the drive. But he knew she'd come for it. He might've played both sides."
Just then, Ava's phone buzzed.
Unknown number. One message.
*It was never just her. Ask Julian what he did in Zurich.*
—E
Ava's blood went cold.
She turned the phone toward him. "What is this?"
Julian froze.
And that silence?
It told her everything.
"You *were* in Zurich," she said. "You said you never saw her after Istanbul."
Julian exhaled. "I lied."
Her throat tightened. "Why?"
"Because Zurich was the first time I thought I could take her down. I met with a buyer—someone who claimed to want to expose her. I gave him partial intel. But I didn't know then… he was working for her. It cost two lives. And almost mine."
Ava stepped back. "You didn't tell me."
"Because I didn't want you to know how far I'd already fallen."
She turned away, hands on her head.
Then: "Is there anything else?"
Julian paused.
And that pause told her: *Yes*.
But before he could speak—glass shattered across the hallway. The hotel door exploded inward.
And in walked someone they never expected:
*Elias.*
Alive. Calm. Armed.
He looked at Ava first. "He's not who you think he is."
Julian raised his hands slowly. "Don't do this."
But Elias didn't aim at Julian.
He aimed at *Ava*.
"I'm sorry," he said. "She wants *you* now."