Thomas scrambled up, his hands shaking as he helped Tedmond settle Millicent into a reinforced passenger seat. His touch was reverent, as if he feared she might dissolve into smoke if he pressed too hard.Behind them, Hugo shoved Lottie into the cabin, following close behind with a hand pressed to his wounded side. Ivy was the last up the ramp, the heavy briefcase thudding onto the floor as she spun around, her eyes fixed on the treeline."Marek! Get in here!" Ivy screamed.Marek was a dark silhouette against the fiery horizon. He fired one last, deafening burst from his rifle, then turned and bolted toward the rising ramp. He leaped, his fingers catching the edge of the metal just as the jet began to lift. Hugo and Ivy seized his tactical vest, hauling him inside a split second before the ramp hissed shut, sealing out the sound of the Syndicate's futile gunfire.The cabin fell silent, save for the hum of the engines and the heavy, ragged breathing of seven survivors.Thomas and A

At the far end of the mansion, in a wing untouched by the night’s chaos, Persis stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows of the secondary lounge. Pre-dawn light crawled across the horizon, casting long, nervous shadows over the room. She kept her arms folded tight, her gaze fixed on the driveway as if she could pull the missing men home through sheer willpower."Still nothing?" Persis asked, her voice thin with a worry she couldn't mask.Hino, standing a few paces behind her, adjusted the cuffs of his crisp, charcoal-grey suit. He looked every bit the high-end estate butler, but the way his thumb rhythmically brushed his watch face betrayed his tension. He gave a slow, regretful shake of his head."No messages yet, Miss Persis," Hino replied. "The signal jamming in the Eastern Sector was extensive. If they are moving, they are likely doing so under total radio silence.""I don't like it," Persis muttered, chewing her lip. "Tedmond isn't the type to stay dark this long unless some

Tedmond’s smile was small, pained, and incredibly tender. He didn't stop her; he let her exhaust her fury against him, accepting every frantic blow as penance for the terror he’d put her through.Finally, he reached down, his large, soot-stained hands gently covering her small fists to still them."I’m sorry, Bee," he whispered, his voice vibrating with a raw, jagged honesty. "I’m sorry I made you wait. But look at me."He nudged her chin up until she was forced to meet his gaze. A soft, tired chuckle escaped him. "I'm too stubborn to die. You know that. And besides, who else is going to buy you those limited-edition tracksuits if I’m not around?"Bianca let out a wet, pathetic hiccup, half-laughing and half-crying. "Nobody. Because everyone else has better taste than you.""Ouch," Tedmond teased, though he winced as he shifted his weight. "That hurt more than the punches."He pulled her back into a proper embrace, lifting her slightly off her feet despite the sharp protest from hi

The ancient, irrepressible instinct of a Washington matriarch quickly replaced the shock of their public display."Well," Millicent said, her voice regaining a touch of its regal rasp as she looked between them. "If you are already married, I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised by such... vigorous displays of affection.”“However, as a mother who has been away for quite some time, I expect you to make up for the years I missed. I hope I won't have to wait another fifteen years for a grandchild to chase through these halls?"The effect was instantaneous.Persis, who had been trying so hard to project the image of a composed, respectful daughter-in-law, felt her face turn a violent, glowing crimson. She stammered, her hands flying up to her cheeks. "O-oh! Mrs. Washington, we—that is—"Persis glanced at Tedmond, pleading for help, but he only looked away with a faint, amused smile playing on his lips. She turned back to Millicent, her voice dropping into a shy, hurried explanation. "

Tedmond squeezed his eyes shut for a second, a long, long-suffering sigh escaping his lungs.He didn't let go of Persis, but he tilted his head back to fix the girl with a weary stare."Bianca, unless the building is currently on fire, this had better be life-or-death.""It is life-or-death!" Bianca insisted, gesturing wildly toward the hallway. "Marek and Hugo are in the kitchen, and they’re both bleeding again!"“Marek just pulled a knife because Hugo tried to eat the last piece of maple-glazed bacon, and Hino is just standing there recording it on his tablet because he says it's 'tactical data'!”Tedmond looked at Persis.Persis looked at Tedmond."Welcome home, young master," Persis teased, patting his cheek before standing up. "It sounds like your army is falling apart without their breakfast."Tedmond stood up, his muscles groaning in protest, but a genuine smile tugged at his lips as he grabbed a fresh shirt from the bed."I suppose I’ll have to go handle the 'bacon crisis.' I’