Chapter 80: A Fragile Victory

The armored vehicle sped through the winding streets, carrying Ava, Lucas, Callum, and the rest of the team away from the city. The tension inside the car was thick, the silence broken only by the engine's hum and the occasional comms crackle. They had made it out of the bank, and the mission had been a success—they had drained Meridian’s financial assets and impeded their ability to fund future operations. But the victory felt fragile. Ava sat in the back of the vehicle, her eyes fixed on the city fading into the distance. Her pulse was still racing from the firefight, and the adrenaline that had carried her through the mission was beginning to fade, leaving behind an ache in her chest. They had struck a blow against Meridian, but she knew better than to believe this would be the end. Lucas sat across from her, his face pale and drawn, his eyes filled with the same intensity that had driven him through the mission. The wound in his shoulder was still fresh, and the bandage was stai