Ethan’s pulse still thrummed in his ears as they moved through the abandoned building. The sound of their footsteps echoed, hollow and urgent in the vast, empty halls. The tension in the air was palpable, the fight leaving them all shaken, but the victory was hard-earned. They had survived Lena’s ambush, but the war wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.Ethan stayed alert, his mind racing through a thousand scenarios. He had no illusions—this wouldn’t be the end of it. Lena’s retreat only meant she had something more up her sleeve, and Victor was still out there. He’d been quiet, waiting for the right moment to strike. But Ethan would be damned if he let him have it.Clara walked beside him, her gaze never leaving the surroundings as she checked the corners of the hallway. The rest of their team was still in the process of securing the building, but Clara was right next to him, her presence grounding him. They’d been through so much together, their bond growing with each dangerous step the

Ethan’s footsteps echoed through the empty lot as he approached the car, his thoughts still swirling from the encounter with Darius. The man’s cryptic words had unsettled him, but he didn’t have time to dwell on them. Not now. The next move was already forming in his mind, and the clock was ticking. He had what he needed—information that could bring them one step closer to Victor, but also a debt that would haunt him the moment Darius called it in.He slid into the driver’s seat, his eyes briefly meeting Clara’s through the passenger window. She was watching him, her expression unreadable. It was as if she could feel the weight of the situation, even from a distance. Ethan offered a small nod to reassure her, but inside, he could feel the pressure building. They were getting closer to the heart of the beast, and the danger was becoming palpable.As he started the car, Jason’s voice cut through the tension. “Did he give you what we need?”Ethan didn’t answer immediately. His gaze flick

The air around the docks seemed thicker now, the silence oppressive as the weight of Luca’s words hung in the space between them. Ethan could feel the tension coiling in his chest, the stakes rising with every passing second. They weren’t just on the verge of toppling Victor anymore—they were now looking at a war against someone just as dangerous, someone who would stop at nothing to secure his place in the criminal world.Luca’s smirk was like a blade, sharp and calculated. It was clear he was enjoying the control he had over the situation. But Ethan wasn’t fooled. The truth had been laid bare: Luca had his own agenda, one that might not align with theirs in the long run. Still, they didn’t have the luxury of questioning everything right now.Ethan stepped forward, his voice low and commanding. “Marcus is a bigger threat than Victor. And you expect us to trust you after everything that’s happened?”Luca didn’t flinch. His eyes were cold, calculating. “Trust is earned, Ethan. But I’m

The words Luca had spoken echoed in Ethan’s mind, gnawing at his every thought. Someone else, he’d said. Someone far worse than Marcus or even Victor. The threat was real, tangible, and Ethan could almost feel the weight of it pressing down on him. Every instinct screamed that this wasn’t just another manipulation—this was serious.Clara and Jason exchanged tense glances, their expressions clouded with doubt. Ethan’s hand never strayed far from his weapon, but his mind was working furiously, piecing together everything they had learned so far. Luca wasn’t here to play games. There was a level of urgency in his eyes, a sense of warning that sent a chill through Ethan.“What do you mean, ‘someone else’?” Clara demanded, her voice sharp, her stance protective.Luca smirked, clearly enjoying the effect his words had on them. He paced a few steps back and forth, his fingers lightly tapping against his leg. “You think Victor and Marcus are the ones you need to watch out for, but there’s som

Victor’s voice was a slow, deliberate drawl, each word dripping with arrogance. The air between them grew heavy with the tension of unspoken threats, and for a moment, Ethan didn’t move. His instincts told him not to act rashly—not yet. But the truth hung in the air, thick with danger, and Clara’s sharp eyes never left Victor’s every movement. “You always were one to play games, Victor,” Ethan said, his voice steady, but with an underlying edge of fury. “What’s this really about? You don’t bring us here just to taunt us.” Victor’s smile deepened, and he stepped away from the window, his hands folding behind his back as he surveyed them both. “You think you can walk into my home, into my world, and demand answers? How amusing. The truth is, you’ve both been pawns in a much larger game than you realize.” Clara stepped forward, her posture tense, her gaze never wavering. “Cut the theatrics, Victor. We know you’re involved with someone else. Someone bigger. Someone who’s been pulling t