Chapter 1

"The engine's roar echoed through the cabin as Georgiana Parker gazed out the window at the endless sea of clouds, lost in thought. Around her, Syrian evacuees clutched their belongings, their exhausted faces showing relief at escaping the war zone. But Georgiana's mind wasn't on her own safety—she kept seeing those eyes, which were unforgettable and filled with determination.

She pressed her forehead against the cool glass, closed her eyes, and let the memories wash over her. One week. She had known that man for just one week, yet it felt like a lifetime ago.

Seven Days Earlier - Aleppo

Syria Morning light cast long shadows across Aleppo's ancient streets as Georgiana methodically packed her photography equipment. After two months of covering the escalating tensions in northern Syria for CNN, she was finally leaving.

Through the open window of her hotel room, the city's sounds drifted in—merchants calling out in Arabic hawking their wares, distant bleating of sheep, occasional car horns. It was hard to believe this peaceful city would soon become a focal point of war.

Georgiana ran her hand over the worn leather of her camera bag, this old thing that had witnessed her time as a war correspondent. It was a graduation gift from her father after she landed the CNN job—""For capturing truth in a world of lies!"" Robert Parker had written on the card.

Robert has always supported her dream of becoming a journalist, even when her mother, Catherine Montgomery, insisted that she pursue a more suitable career in finance.

Suddenly, a sharp crack of gunfire shattered the silence.

Georgiana froze, her hand still on the camera, thinking for a moment she had imagined it. Then came a second shot, followed by a third.

Within seconds, the sporadic gunfire evolved into sustained exchanges.

Georgiana's heart pounding, she rushed to the window. Smoke rose from multiple points across the city, black columns defiling the azure sky. People fled through the streets in panic, their screams echoing off the stone buildings.

""So it begins."" she murmured.

The government forces and rebels had finally engaged in the city center.

Her journalistic instincts took over as she grabbed her primary camera.

History was unfolding—she had to document it. But just as she reached for the door handle, her satellite phone vibrated. The message was from the Atlanta newsroom: [Evacuate immediately. All journalists must leave now. Government forces are moving in heavy artillery.]

Another explosion rocked nearby, the blast wave rattling the window frame, sending debris cascading down.

Georgiana stumbled backward, her heart racing, reason telling her to finish packing and leave immediately, but her reporter's instincts rebelled against abandoning such an important story.

Her internal struggle was interrupted by a deafening explosion that shattered the windows, sending glass shards flying everywhere.

She dove behind the bed as another explosion struck even closer, the sound so loud it left her ears ringing. Through the broken windows, she heard the rhythm of heavy machine gun fire intensifying, mixed with the deeper boom of mortar rounds. With trembling hands, she pulled out her satellite phone and dialed the U.S. Embassy emergency number.

Each ring seemed to last an eternity until someone finally answered. ""This is CNN reporter Georgiana Parker,"" she fought to keep her voice steady. ""I'm trapped at the Al-Madina Hotel near the city center. The fighting…""

""Ms. Parker, you must relocate immediately,"" the embassy official cut in. ""Government forces are advancing from the north, and rebels are gathering in the city center. The hotel is in the crossfire zone. Evacuate south to these coordinates.""

As the official read out the coordinates, Georgiana hastily scribbled the numbers in her notebook. Another explosion rocked the building, closer this time.

""How do I get there?"" she asked between coughs. ""The streets are…""

""Find transportation and move immediately. The situation is deteriorating rapidly. We cannot guarantee—"" As the embassy official said, the line went dead.

Georgiana stared at the silent phone for a moment, then forced herself into action. She stuffed her camera and satellite phone into her bag, grabbed her passport and cash, and crouched by the door. The hallway outside was filled with shouts and running footsteps as other guests were fleeing. She pressed herself against the wall, moving towards the lobby. The once tidy space was now in chaos, with overturned furniture and shattered glass everywhere.

""Stay calm!"" she told herself.

She needed transportation, something small and agile that could navigate the increasingly dangerous streets. Then she remembered—Mrs. Nazari, her landlady from her first few weeks, the old woman who kept a motorcycle for her son who worked in Damascus.

Mrs. Nazari's house was only a few blocks away, but as the fighting grew more intense, that distance might as well have been several miles. Georgiana took a deep breath, clutched her backpack tightly, and darted into the street.

The once-familiar neighborhood had become a war zone. She ran between buildings, hiding in shadows, the thick smoke burning her eyes and throat.

She almost missed Mrs. Nazari's house in her panic, skidding to a stop at the courtyard entrance. The old wooden door was locked, but when she knocked, Mrs. Nazari appeared almost instantly.

""Allah be praised! Georgiana!"" Mrs. Nazari pulled her inside. ""Why are you still here? It's not safe!""

""Mrs. Nazari, I need help,"" Georgiana gasped. ""Could I borrow your son's motorcycle? I need to reach the evacuation point.""

The landlady didn't hesitate for a second. She hurried to the small shed in the courtyard and wheeled out an old but well-maintained Kawasaki motorcycle. ""Take it. May Allah protect you.""

Georgiana hugged her tightly. ""Thank you. I'll find a way to return it.""

""Forget the motorcycle, just stay safe, dear."" Mrs. Nazari pressed the keys into her hand. ""Go now, quickly!""

The motorcycle roared to life on the first try. Georgiana prayed it would maintain its good condition as she carefully maneuvered through the courtyard gate onto the street.

The coordinates were about five miles away, requiring her to cross the southern part of the city.

She navigated through the chaos, dodging abandoned vehicles and debris. The fighting seemed to spread like deadly ripples. More than once, she had to turn back or find alternate routes as streets became impassable or too dangerous.

It felt like hours but was probably only twenty minutes when she spotted a convoy of military vehicles ahead. Her heart leaped as she recognized the distinctive desert-tan Humvees of the U.S. military and UN peacekeeping forces. She knew she was almost safe.

Then she saw that man.

Among the soldiers protecting the convoy was a tall figure in EOD bomb disposal gear, efficiently searching the road ahead of the convoy. Even through his protective visor, she could see the focus in his expression. Something about the way he moved, each precise step, drew her attention.

She was so distracted that she almost missed the metallic click beneath her front wheel.

The soldier's head snapped up. Their eyes met through his protective visor—steel gray meeting brown—and in that frozen moment, she watched his expression shift from concentration to alarm.

""Don't move!"" He shouted to her. ""You've triggered a bomb!""

When Georgiana heard the soft, steady beeping from beneath her feet, she felt her blood run cold.

The bomb's countdown had begun."