Jade’s POV:
My fingers flew across the keyboard with precision that came from years of practice. Threerge monitors surrounded me, each disying different information as I monitored Danny’s phone conversations through a remote hack. The rapid clicking of keys was the only sound in my otherwise silent apartment as I sorted through audio files and tracked his digital footprint.
When my phone rang, I answered without looking, activating the speaker while continuing to type.
“Jade Morgan,” I said, keeping my voice neutral.
“He’s awake,” Ethan’s voice carried an unusual amount of emotion. “My father just woke up.”
My fingers paused for a millisecond before resuming their dance across the keyboard. I had expected this oue.
“That’s good news. The treatment worked as expected,” I replied, eyes still scanning the monitors as a conversation between Danny and Warren Mitchell came into view on my screen.
“The doctors are calling it a miracle. They’ve never seen anything like it.” There was a pause. “Will youe see
him? He asked about you when he heard what you did.”
“That won’t be necessary,” I replied, adjusting my headphones as I increased the volume on Danny’s conversation. “Your father doesn’t need me now. He needs his family.”
<b>“</b>You are the reason he’s alive, Jade.”
“I’m aware,” <b>I </b>said, watching Warren Mitchell settle into a leather chair in what appeared to be an opulent office. “I need to go. Something important just came up.”
‘Jade-
‘I’ll call youter,”
I disconnected and turned up the volume as Danny poured two sses <b>of </b>scotch and handed one to Mitchell.
“Are you sure about this?” Danny asked, his voice tinny through my speakers.
Mitchell swirled the amber liquid. “It doesn’t matter. William Haxton’s recovery won’t change anything. The toxin has already done irreversible damage to his system. My sources say he has two months, at most.”
I felt my expression remain neutral, but something cold settled in my stomach.
“What about his son? Ethan seems to have stepped up quite effectively,” Danny observed.
:
91
Mitchell’sugh was cold. “Ethan Haxton is exhausted. He’s been running himself ragged for a year, dealing with his father’s illness while managing thepany. When William dies, Ethan will be at his weakest. That’s when we’ll
strike.”
“And the Haxton assets?”
“Will be ours,” Mitchell smiled, raising his ss. “Piece by piece, we’ll dismantle everything they’ve built.”
Danny shifted ufortably. “I heard William was in bad shape two days ago. They did some procedure and rushed him home. Do you think he’s… you know, on his way out?”
“Could be,” Mitchell nodded. “The Arctic Blue toxin is impossible to trace and even harder to treat. No one alive can neutralize it. The only person who could have created an antidote died in that Caribbean facility explosion.”
I couldn’t help the cold smile that spread across my face. If only they knew.
“What about our meeting with the Shadow branch in Princeton?” Danny asked.
“In two days, on the yacht,” Mitchell confirmed. “Everything is set. Once we get their support, we can break away from SPECTERpletely. They’ve be too cautious, too slow. We need to be bold.”
My phone rang again. Ethan’s name shed on the screen.
“Yes?” I answered, still watching the monitors.
“Youughed before you hung up,” Ethan said. “What was funny?”
I raised an eyebrow, impressed by his perception. “Nothing important. Just something I remembered.”
“Jade, if there’s anything-”
‘I have to go, Ethan. Enjoy your father’s recovery. It’s a big day for your family.”
I ended the call and leaned back in my chair, considering Mitchell’s words.
“Big ns for an old man,” I murmured to myself, turning back to my monitors.
“The meeting’s set for Thursday night,” Danny’s voice came through clearly. “The yacht will be docked at the Hudson River Marina, slip forty–two.”
I made a note of the location and time, then switched to another screen showing Mitchell Foundation’s financial records. Money flowed through various shellpanies like water through a sieve.