THE BILLIONAIRE'S REDEMPTION

Ethan's POV

The hum of the plane's engine vibrated through the cabin as I adjusted the headset over my ears. The world outside the small jet was a sea of black, broken only by the faint glimmer of stars. It felt like we were suspended in nothingness, rushing toward an uncertain end. 

Sophia sat across from me, her arms crossed and her eyes locked on the window. She had barely spoken since we took off, but the tension radiating from her was palpable. I didn't blame her. The weight of everything I'd told her, everything she had witnessed, was enough to crush anyone. 

I leaned forward, my elbows resting on my knees. "You're awfully quiet." 

She turned to me, her expression unreadable. "I'm trying to figure out if I made the biggest mistake of my life getting on this plane." 

Her words stung more than I cared to admit. 

"You didn't," I said, my voice steady. "I promised I'd keep you safe, and I meant it." 

Sophia laughed, a sharp, bitter sound. "Safe? Ethan, I've been shot at, chased by dogs, and nearly crushed by a collapsing building—all in the span of a day. If this is your version of safe, I'd hate to see the alternative." 

I opened my mouth to respond, but the pilot's voice crackled through the headset, cutting me off. 

"We're approaching the coordinates," he said. "Should be touching down in about twenty minutes. But you should know—we've got company." 

"What kind of company?" I demanded, already dreading the answer. 

"Two choppers. They've been tailing us for the last five minutes. I can't shake them." 

Langston's men. Of course, they'd be waiting. 

"Can you lose them?" I asked, my mind racing through contingency plans. 

"Not without some serious acrobatics," the pilot replied. "And I don't think your friend there would appreciate that." 

Sophia glanced at me, her eyes narrowing. "What's going on?" 

I didn't sugarcoat it. "Langston's men are on our tail. If we don't act fast, they'll bring this plane down before we even hit the ground." 

Her face paled, but to her credit, she didn't panic. 

"What do we do?" she asked, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. 

I pulled a tablet from my bag, accessing a digital map of the area. "There's an emergency landing strip about fifteen miles from here. It's not ideal, but it's our best shot." 

The pilot must have overheard because he responded before I could relay the plan. "Got it. Hold tight—it's going to get bumpy." 

The plane banked sharply to the left, and Sophia gripped the armrests, her knuckles white. I reached out instinctively, my hand brushing against hers. 

"It's going to be okay," I said, though I wasn't entirely sure I believed it. 

The sound of gunfire shattered the tense silence, bullets pinging off the fuselage. Sophia flinched, her eyes wide with fear. 

"Are they shooting at us?" she asked, her voice rising. 

"They're trying to force us down," I explained, my jaw tightening. "They won't risk blowing us out of the sky—they need what's on this plane." 

"What's on this plane?" she demanded, her voice laced with accusation. 

I hesitated, knowing that the truth would only add to the chaos. "Langston's research files. Everything we need to expose him and bring down his entire operation." 

Sophia stared at me, a mix of disbelief and anger flashing across her face. "You brought the files with you? Are you insane?" 

"It's the only leverage we have," I said, my voice firm. "Without them, we've got nothing." 

She shook her head, muttering something under her breath, but before she could say more, the plane lurched violently. 

"Brace yourselves!" the pilot shouted. "We're going down—whether we like it or not." 

The landing was a controlled crash, the plane skidding across the makeshift runway with a deafening screech. I grabbed Sophia, shielding her with my body as the cabin shook violently. 

When we finally came to a stop, the silence was deafening. 

"Everyone in one piece?" the pilot called out, his voice strained. 

"Barely," I muttered, helping Sophia unbuckle her seatbelt. 

She looked at me, her face pale but determined. "We need to move. They'll be here any second." 

She was right. Langston's men wouldn't be far behind. 

I grabbed the tablet and a small duffel bag containing the files, shoving it into Sophia's hands. "Take this and run. I'll hold them off." 

Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you out of your mind? You can't take them on alone." 

"I don't have a choice," I said, my voice firm. "If they get their hands on those files, it's over." 

Sophia hesitated, her grip on the bag tightening. "I'm not leaving you." 

"You have to," I insisted, stepping closer. "This isn't about me, Sophia. It's about stopping Langston. You can do this—I know you can." 

Before she could argue further, the sound of approaching vehicles broke through the silence. 

"Go!" I shouted, pushing her toward the forest. 

She hesitated for a fraction of a second before nodding, her jaw set with determination. "Don't you dare get yourself killed," she said, her voice trembling. 

I watched her disappear into the shadows, my chest tightening with a mixture of fear and pride. 

Turning back to the wreckage, I prepared myself for the fight ahead. 

The headlights of Langston's convoy appeared on the horizon, and I clenched my fists, r

eady to face whatever came next. 

This wasn't just about redemption anymore. 

It was war.