CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHT – THE NEXT MOVE

When Cassie woke hours later, the room was bathed in the golden light of late afternoon. Florian was still asleep beside her, his face peaceful for the first time in days. She watched him for a moment, her heart swelling with love and determination. Carefully, so as not to wake him, she slipped out of bed and moved to the small table by the window. She found a notepad and pen in the drawer and began to write, outlining ideas and plans. They needed information – about Karl's operations, his weaknesses. They needed money that couldn't be traced. And most importantly, they needed allies they could trust. As she wrote, Cassie felt a renewed sense of purpose. They had been reactive for too long, always one step behind. It was time to take control of their own story. She thought of the people they had met on their journey – the kind strangers who had helped them, even unknowingly. There was good in the world, she reminded herself. They just had to be brave enough to reach out and find it