Chapter 86: Regroup and Recover

The rhythmic hum of the helicopter’s engines filled the cabin as Ava, Lucas, and the rest of the team flew away from the chaos they had narrowly escaped. The dark Serbian mountains receded into the distance, but the thick and suffocating tension clung to the air. The weight of their failures overshadowed the relief of survival—Meridian had lured them into a trap, and they had barely made it out alive. Ava sat in silence, her body still trembling with adrenaline. She stared out the small window at the endless expanse of dark clouds, her mind racing about what had just happened—and what was still to come. They had been so close, yet it felt like Meridian was always one step ahead, ready to pull the rug out from beneath them. Her gaze flicked to Lucas, who sat across from her, pale and drawn. His shoulder was still bandaged, but the wound wasn’t what worried Ava. It was the look in his eyes—the simmering anger, the frustration, the exhaustion. Lucas hadn’t spoken much since they had tak