Vivian’s eyes flicked back to the photo on her screen. The grainy image captured the moment perfectly—her soft smile to Dolly, the protective hand of Dylan resting on her shoulder, the obliviousness of the people around them. But now, that moment was tainted. Someone had been watching, waiting.Her throat tightened. “They want me rattled.”Dylan’s voice was low but firm. “Then we don’t give them the satisfaction.”She nodded, determination hardening like steel in her chest. “I’ll double security around Dolly. No more public appearances without full sweeps.”“Good.” Dylan’s tone grew sharper, eyes flicking back to the street outside the car window. “No more slip-ups. We can’t afford mistakes.”Vivian swallowed, running a hand through her hair. “You think they’re going to try something soon? Like, escalate?”Dylan shook his head slowly. “It’s not if. It’s when. They’re already testing the waters—sending signals. That photo wasn’t just for intimidation. It was a message.”A bitter laugh

Vivian’s eyes flicked back to the photo on her screen. The grainy image captured the moment perfectly—her soft smile to Dolly, the protective hand of Dylan resting on her shoulder, the obliviousness of the people around them. But now, that moment was tainted. Someone had been watching, waiting. Her throat tightened. “They want me rattled.” Dylan’s voice was low but firm. “Then we don’t give them the satisfaction.” She nodded, determination hardening like steel in her chest. “I’ll double security around Dolly. No more public appearances without full sweeps.” “Good.” Dylan’s tone grew sharper, eyes flicking back to the street outside the car window. “No more slip-ups. We can’t afford mistakes.” Vivian swallowed, running a hand through her hair. “You think they’re going to try something soon? Like, escalate?” Dylan shook his head slowly. “It’s not if. It’s when. They’re already testing the waters—sending signals. That photo wasn’t just for intimidation. It was a message.” A bitter

Three Days Later — Tokyo, JapanLocation: Private Tea House, Shibuya DistrictThe paper screen slid open silently as Maiko Katsura entered, her presence as sharp and precise as the blade hidden beneath her kimono sleeve. She wasn’t just an information broker—she was a legend in the intelligence world, someone even seasoned field operatives refused to cross.Vivian stood waiting, dressed simply in black, no weapons visible, but her eyes betrayed the fire that had only grown since the confrontation with Lucien.Maiko’s lips curled faintly. “You came without backup. Either brave… or reckless.”Vivian bowed slightly. “Both.”Maiko gestured to the cushion across from her. “Then speak. And don’t waste words.”Vivian slid a flash drive across the lacquered table. “Nadia Greer. Victor Hale. Marco Bellini. We tracked the link back to your territory. I need names, networks, satellite leases, ghost server jumps—everything.”Maiko didn’t even look at the drive. “And what do I get in return?”Vivi

A glass chandelier sparkled above the marble atrium, casting refracted light across the faces of billionaires, diplomats, and defense contractors. Waiters in tuxedos glided past with champagne. Laughter rippled. Cameras clicked.And in the middle of it all, Victor Hale smiled.His tailored suit was razor-sharp, his tie blood red. The woman on his arm—Nadia’s clone—laughed at something a Turkish minister said, but her eyes flicked robotically to the left every three seconds. A programmed scan pattern.“She’s running a threat sweep,” Dylan muttered from the van, eyes locked on the screen.Vivian adjusted her blazer, then pulled her hair into a tight ponytail as she exited the vehicle. “Let her. She won’t see us coming.”“Two guards at every exit,” Mendez said, checking the building schematic. “Basement’s got a secured uplink. That’s where he’ll trigger the protocol.”Vivian clicked her mic. “Caleb?”“I’m inside already,” came the hushed voice. “Pose as a waiter. I’m moving toward the up

Vivian didn’t answer right away. Her fingers tightened around the pendant until the edges bit into her skin. The cold wind lashed at her face, but it was nothing compared to the storm tearing through her mind.Finally, she spoke, voice low. “Then we burn it before it breathes.”Dylan nodded slowly. “Caleb thinks he found a backdoor into the Umbra relay. Could give us thirty seconds of blackout in Madrid’s defense grid.”“Thirty seconds is a lifetime in the right hands,” she said, then turned to face him fully. “Get the strike team briefed. We go dark at 0400.”He hesitated. “You sure you’re up for this?”Vivian’s eyes flashed. “I wasn’t up for losing Oslo. I wasn’t up for watching a clone wear Nadia’s face like a mask. But here we are.”Dylan gave a grim smile. “Alright then. I’ll let the others know.”As he walked off, Vivian stared into the darkness, whispering to herself, “Let Madrid be the last grave we dig.”⸻Caucasus Mountains, 48 hours laterA blizzard roared across the icy pe