Berlin, Germeny - Airport
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvV8rV7JoTq
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4x6O6iEtGQ
Mathis finally stepped off the plane, blending into the steady stream of travelers as he collected his luggage and disappeared into the bustling chaos of Berlin's airport. The crisp September air hit him as he stepped outside, carrying a faint chill that bit at his skin despite the afternoon sun hanging low in the sky. The sky was a pale blue, fading slightly at the horizon, and the hum of distant planes lingered like a persistent echo in his ears. Even amidst the noise of taxis and travelers, Mathis remained hyper-aware, his senses on high alert. The weight of the nine-day deadline bore down on him, like sand slipping through his fingers.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYmsN97KhH
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQSaqdEwgs
He adjusted his collar, trying to shake off the exhaustion that clung to him. Hours spent chasing leads had left him feeling like a dog running in circles. Was he chasing ghosts? No. It was all connected. He was sure of that much.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyrdRxtqb0
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRaLOSKOV9
The cacophony of hurried footsteps, rolling luggage, and murmured conversations faded the moment his eyes locked onto a familiar figure leaning casually against a sleek, black car.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9NfXGqleI
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPtt1f0BSH
Bree.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvwd1KrMhh
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3dqjIWQyt
The car's polished surface gleamed under the pale afternoon light, blending into the backdrop of taxis and passengers, but Bree stood out like a beacon. She always did. As he approached, expecting the usual cool reception, Bree surprised him by stepping forward and pulling him into a hug.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9V8CebTfdn
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLw7rDVES1
The warmth of her embrace caught him off guard, along with the familiar scent of her perfume—a scent that had once been comforting, now wrapped in bittersweet memories. For a second, the image of her laughing, carefree and light, flashed in his mind. But that was a different time. It felt like a lifetime ago.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQND5o4fqtf
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOl4gnTD0W
His body stiffened instinctively, the wall he'd built around himself refusing to crumble, even when part of him wanted to. Guilt gnawed at him—for pushing her away, for keeping her at arm's length ever since the truth about his family's death came from Mr. Sha. He knew it was for the best, but that didn't stop the ache that twisted in his chest every time he was near her. He almost pulled away, the instinct to protect himself kicking in, but he forced himself to relax, though a knot still sat heavy in his stomach.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWRc4pGiop
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8QZW2bS2V
"So, Mathis," Bree smiled, though her eyes carried a weight that her light tone couldn't mask. "How are you? You're walking well—looks like your leg healed nicely."
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIS6Op3L7L
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYg13YYA7wu
Mathis nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah. Long recovery," he said, though the words felt hollow. The nine-day countdown pounded in the back of his mind. Time was slipping away too fast, and every second spent on small talk felt like a waste. He could feel Bree's warmth, her concern for him, but it only reminded him of the distance he'd created between them. It was easier this way. Safer.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTbL9gLG4E
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6L58AuM710
"How about you?" he asked, more out of courtesy than curiosity.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgMAEiomaW
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7w6QPG6wqs
Bree's eyes flicked over him, lingering a little too long, as if she were searching for the man he used to be. But that man was long gone, buried under the weight of grief and revenge. She must have known that.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWFZUzNfKA
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFP9SwCrK5N
"Keeping busy," she replied, her voice softening. For a moment, her easy smile faltered, and he caught a glimpse of something deeper—something unresolved. She hadn't mentioned the silence between them. She didn't have to. It hung heavy in the air, an unspoken question neither of them was ready to confront.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkHwq4isH6
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriTexHggIC
Bree shifted gears, slipping back into the confident agent she'd always been. "Speaking of busy," she said, hefting his bag into the trunk with ease, "I've been tracking a cargo van that passed through Berlin, heading for Italy. I got the registration number, but beyond that, it's been... tricky."
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uBqNlu4FP
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxImGUstTFO
Mathis chuckled, grateful for the shift in topic. He pulled out his phone and dialed quickly. "I know just the guy for that. Hey, Brillo. I've got a job for you. Can you use SAT-ONE to track a vehicle if I give you the registration number? Perfect. I'll send it your way."
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQolwOVtQXN
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYjiMsero7
As he ended the call, Bree raised an eyebrow but didn't push for details. Years in the field had taught her to leave some things unspoken. But Mathis knew she had her own reasons for being here—reasons beyond just helping him.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGmqmlgcRL
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKdBRVONgO
She wasn't just here out of loyalty. Her government had a vested interest in the stolen drone too. If they could recover it, they'd want a piece of the technology—a bargaining chip in the global game of espionage. She hadn't said it outright, but Mathis could sense it, feel the tension between her personal stake and her feelings for him. He didn't doubt her friendship, but it was layered with complexity. Bree had always been driven, and that hadn't changed.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUFUj3XdXB
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUI7HURuyC
Mathis slipped his phone back into his jacket, the weight of the next nine days pressing harder. That van wasn't just a lead—it was their only link to the drone capable of pulling off an assassination that could throw the world into chaos. If they lost it, everything would unravel.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMUer1t1Tf
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScsFFtYNIE
"Brillo will have something soon," he said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. The Shadow Front wouldn't give them the luxury of time.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipoAF1zM21
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DwLiTjMDZ
Bree nodded, her fingers tapping lightly against the car, her gaze drifting toward the road. "Good, because we're running on borrowed time. The van is key to figuring out how the drone moved. If it crosses into Italy, we could lose it for good."
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpzqJs93wm
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4I8jgnDlo
"Any luck with the footage at the checkpoints?" Mathis asked, already preparing himself mentally for the next step.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRi4VsxFYBY
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxmGsWX3Vd
Bree sighed, leaning against the car, her face serious. "Nothing yet. The van's keeping a low profile, probably running with forged papers. It's like they're always a step ahead."
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTT7Nzsqf2
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzydfAhD2IQ
Mathis frowned. The frustration was mounting. "We'll get it," he said, mostly to himself.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JJzo4EoOW
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwgGnPDT72
They climbed into the car, the city's rhythm still pulsing around them, but quieter now. As Bree started the engine, she glanced at him. "There's more. The van's heading to Rome, but that's not the only reason we're going there."
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXA4ZyPqAX
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAVCVhlQiY
Mathis turned to her, curiosity piqued. "What else?"
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcP3m0wpNw
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNA0DO9vA9
"The Gray Man," she said, her voice lowering. "I've heard whispers that he's resurfaced."
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZLfoO3Zqd
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjM33xnbWzG
A cold chill ran down Mathis's spine. The Gray Man wasn't just a ghost in the intelligence world—he was a specter. The kind of operative who disappeared without a trace, leaving devastation in his wake. If he was involved, it meant they were already deep in a game far more dangerous than they'd realized.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqDYJAj3U9
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODtunhkXZQ
Mathis stiffened at the name, the air suddenly feeling colder despite the sun still hanging in the sky. "If he's involved..." He let the thought hang in the air. They both knew what it meant.
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjt0miqGz4n
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJNNSuxAG2
Bree met his gaze, her expression grim. "Exactly. We're walking into a storm, Mathis. But we've been here before, haven't we?"
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykXdX2p8bn
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eI2amP88n
Mathis grinned, though the tension between them remained thick. "Yeah. And we always make it out."
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfT8ta2ZUy
243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lNS3C3vfD
But as they pulled away from the airport, the nine-day countdown ticked in his head, a reminder that this storm might be unlike any they'd faced before.
ns216.73.216.154da2
