The video feed suddenly cut to black, replaced by a message reading *Connection Lost*.

I sat back in my chair, my heart pounding against my ribs like a trapped bird.

The silence in the office was deafening.

I looked down at my hands, which were trembling violently now that the adrenaline was fading.

Adrian moved around the desk and knelt beside my chair.

He didn’t try to touch me, but his presence was a solid, grounding weight.

“It is over, Emily,” he said, his voice incredibly gentle.

“You did it.”

“He’s still out there,” I whispered, looking at the dark screen.

“He won’t get far,” Adrian said.

“My people are tracking the vehicle’s GPS.”

“The federal agents at Midway were already waiting for him to try to board that plane.”

I closed my eyes, letting out a breath I felt like I had been holding for years.

For the first time, the heavy weight in my chest felt a little lighter.

The rain continued to fall outside, washing over the glass of the high-rise.

But the warmth of the office felt safe, a fortress built by the man standing beside me.