Blythe exhales, pulling back slightly, her fingers still entangled behind my neck. Her eyes—God, her eyes—search mine, reading the shift, knowing this isn’t just any call.

“You have to answer,” she mumbles.

I sigh and slide my finger along the screen. “This better be important.”

His voice is clipped, all business. “It’s happening.”

My pulse spikes. “What?”

Sanford exhales, and I already know I’m going to hate what comes next. “One of our decoy locations was just hit. They were looking for her, Atlas. The safe house was a front, but they tore through it anyway. Took down one of our security guys before they killed the attackers—the Hollow Syndicate was part of the operation.”

The words land in my chest and rip straight through. No warning. Just pain. Clean, brutal, fucking lethal.

Blythe must read something in my face because she tenses, her grip tightening on my wrist. “Atlas?”

I don’t look away from her, but my voice drops deadly quiet. “Where did this happen?”

“It was in Ashwood Vale. Two towns too close to you. We set it up to draw attention, but it means he’s moving faster than expected. Winston’s men aren’t just looking for leads anymore—they’re eliminating obstacles. We have to hide her and take him down—now.”

I glance at Blythe, but she already knows. She’s smart. She’s seen this play out before. She doesn’t ask if anyone made it out. She already knows the answer.

She inhales slow, bracing. But her voice doesn’t waver. “How much time do we have?”

Sanford hears her. He hesitates for half a second—long enough for me to know he’s calculating.

Finally, “Not much. Days, maybe? Less if they get wind of the Birchwood property. If they suspect she’s here, they’ll bring everything.” A pause. “I don’t think we’re ready.”

“I already am.”

“No, Atlas.” Sanford’s voice is sharper now. He knows me too well. “I mean really fucking ready. This isn’t just about protecting her anymore. It’s about finishing him. You let Winston slip through your fingers once. If he gets another chance, he’ll gut you and take her with him.”

The muscles in my jaw lock so fucking tight my teeth hurt. “That’s not going to happen.”

“We need to meet,” Sanford says. “Cassian and Malerick are in, but we need to get in touch with Crait Quantum Shield to see what assets they can send us. Then, we set the trap.”

“Where do we meet?” I ask, then add, “I don’t want to leave Blythe. Not right now.”

“You have a suggestion?”

I don’t hesitate. “The shop, in ten.”

“See you in a few.”

The line goes dead.

For a second, I don’t move.

The silence crashes down, heavy and suffocating.

Then Blythe steps forward, pressing her palm against my chest.