Chapter 54
Vanishing Act
The plane jolted violently as Amira threw it into a steep descent. The sudden drop sent Richard tumbling into a seat, gripping the armrests with white knuckles.
“Are you trying to kill us?” he shouted over the roar of the engines.
Amira smirked, unfazed. “No. Just making sure Vincent thinks we’re already dead.”
Naomi tightened her seatbelt. “You’re faking a crash. How exactly does that work?”
Amira adjusted a few dials, her fingers moving with expert precision. “We’re going dark. Transponder’s off, flight path erased, and in about thirty seconds, the world will think we fell into the Atlantic.”
Elena’s eyes stayed locked on the navigation screen. Their original path to Paris had been abandoned—Madrid was now their destination. But even with the change, they weren’t safe yet.
“Jordan,” she called into her earpiece. “Status?”
His voice came back sharp. “Vincent’s team is mobilized in Paris. They have a unit on standby, ready to intercept you.”
Naomi exhaled. “Good thing we won’t be there.”
“But don’t get comfortable yet,” Jordan continued. “They also have eyes on possible reroutes. If they figure out you changed course, Madrid won’t be safe either.”
Richard cursed under his breath. “So we’re running in circles?”
“No,” Elena said firmly. “We’re staying ahead.”
Amira let out a satisfied hum. “Alright. We’re officially ghosts.”
She flicked a switch, and the cabin lights dimmed. Outside, nothing but darkness stretched beyond the windows. No signal. No radar trace.
Richard’s breathing slowed. “So… we’re actually doing this.”
Elena nodded. “Now we just have to land before they realize we’re still alive.”
Naomi leaned forward. “Madrid still the plan?”
Elena hesitated. “For now. But we need an extraction point once we’re on the ground.”
Jordan’s voice cut back in. “I have a contact in Madrid. Low-profile, but reliable. If you can make it there, I’ll set it up.”
Amira cracked her neck. “Then you’d better tell them to hurry. Because we’ll be touching down in twenty minutes.”
Elena glanced at Naomi and Richard. They had twenty minutes to prepare for whatever came next.
And if Vincent caught on before then…
They might not get another chance.
