Chapter 83: The Descent

The transport plane hummed as it cut through the night sky, carrying Ava, Lucas, Callum, and the rest of the team toward Serbia. The cold blue light from the cockpit illuminated the cabin, casting long shadows over the silent figures strapped into their seats. There was an eerie stillness in the air, the tension thick as they prepared to take the next step in their fight against Meridian. Ava sat silently, staring out the small window at the dark clouds below. Her mind raced with the details of the mission, her thoughts returning again and again to Pavlov’s lead. A safe house in Serbia—one of Meridian’s fallback locations. If Pavlov was telling the truth, Meridian’s leadership could be hiding there, preparing their next move. But the truth was a fickle thing, especially when it came to Meridian operatives. They had spent years perfecting the art of deception, and Pavlov was no different. For all they knew, this lead could be a trap, a carefully laid plan to lure them into a dangerous