Chapter 28: Converging Forces

The safe house was an old, weathered cottage on the city's outskirts, nestled among a grove of trees. It had been abandoned for years but stood strong—a small fortress against the outside world. As Lucas pulled the car to a stop, Ava felt a wave of tension release from her shoulders. They had managed to escape Collins’s men, but she knew they were far from safe. Jess, Sara, Ryan, and Martin Walsh waited inside the cottage. Ava could see the tension in their faces, a mixture of fear and determination. Jess stood up as they entered, her expression serious. "Did you make contact with the journalists?" she asked. Ava nodded. "Yes. They have the documents, and they’re going to run the story. But Collins’s men are already on our tail. We barely made it out." Sara frowned. "Collins is moving faster than we thought. We need to figure out our next move and fast." Lucas spoke up, his voice steady. "We have to assume Collins knows we’re close. He’ll be throwing everything he has at us now. We