Chapter 71 She Is Safe

• Ace
• Paetyn’s breathing evens out, her head resting on my chest, and I can feel the tension in her body fading. She’s finally asleep. I roll over and out of bed, taking careful steps, making sure not to wake her, and reach for my clothes. The bunker is quiet, the only sound the buzz of the surveillance monitors. I get dressed quickly and slip my phone into my pocket.
• The door is heavy as I push it open into the cold night air. A few steps away from the bunker, I raise the phone and hunt for a signal. The screen flickers; finally, two bars. I make the call, my voice low, the conversation brief: logistics, timing, and location. I end it and pocket the phone, scanning the surrounding darkness. No movement, no unexpected eyes. Good.