Chapter 29: The City Chase

The trouble began with something small enough to ignore and dangerous enough to matter.

Adrian and Helena track the stolen ambulance through traffic using a hidden fleet transmitter. Claire coordinates police while refusing to stay behind.

Adrian understood that the next choice would be remembered long after the explanation. For years Claire had translated Adrian's absence into excuses. Now she watched actions instead, and Adrian understood that no speech could shorten the distance he had made.

They corner Marcus at a river warehouse, where he sets the record boxes on fire.

"Paper burns. The truth does not have to."

Desire moved between them like weather: undeniable, changeable, and no longer mistaken for a promise.

Helena reveals she photographed every ledger before entering the tunnel.