Chapter 17: The Next Move

The car sped down the dark highway, the tension inside palpable as Ava, Lucas, Sara, Daniel, and Mark drove away from the safe house. Ava fixed her gaze on the road ahead, her mind racing about their next steps. They had narrowly escaped Collins's men, but she knew they were far from safe. Lucas sat beside her, his hand still gripping hers. His touch was warm, a steady anchor in the chaos around them. She could feel his determination, the silent promise that they would get through this together. Daniel drove silently, eyes scanning the rearview mirror for any signs of pursuit. Sara was beside him, her phone in hand, checking for updates from her contacts. Mark sat in the back, still pale and visibly shaken, clutching the documents that could bring Collins down. Ava broke the silence, her voice steady but urgent. "Where do we go from here?" Sara looked up, her expression serious. "We need to get Mark to a secure location where he can be protected until we present the evidence to the