The saw hummed in Elijah’s hand, vibrating through muscle and bone as he sliced slowly through the aged pine log. It was early. Too early, really. The kind of morning that held the quiet too tightly, like the world was holding its breath. The mountains in the distance wore their mist like cloaks, and dew shimmered on every blade of grass like polished crystal. His cabin sat on a high ridge, surrounded by nothing but trees, rock, and memory. Wreeeeek, snap. The saw bit through the last inch of wood, and Elijah wiped the sweat from his brow with a forearm. The log rolled aside gently, joining a neat pile he’d been working on for over a week. A project that was equal parts habit and hiding. He set the saw down on the stump and inhaled deeply. The scent of wood and morning fog filled his lungs. That’s when it hit him, the smell. Warm. Buttery. Spiced with something like rosemary and clove. Eggs? Toast? Pancakes? Valeria? He turned slowly, blinking against the sunlight streaming

The coordinates still blinked on her screen, sharp white numbers against a backdrop of shadows and secrets . Livia reached up to rub her temple, mind still racing, heart still not sure what to believe. Her fingers hovered over the touchpad when a message slid into her encrypted channel, the name listed only as: [R.M] > Have you been able to hack the site? Livia hesitated just a second, then typed: > Yes. Russian Neural Vault cracked. Files downloaded. There was a brief pause. Then another message. > Good. You need to come to this location. It’s not safe to talk online. Federal systems monitor spikes like this. You’ve tripped more than one alarm. Attached below was a location pin. Some small industrial dock, fifteen miles out. Livia stared at the screen. > I’ll be there. She slid the drive into a small secure capsule, pocketed it, and stood. A thrill buzzed beneath her ribs like caffeine and danger. She moved quickly, shoving her laptop into her weather-beaten satchel and sl

“Elijah!” Valeria shouted, her voice cracking.The guards were closing in fast, boots thundering on the marble.Elijah stepped in front of her, chest heaving, arms wide like a shield.“Run,” he growled. “Valeria, go—now!”“But I can’t leave you—!”He turned, his eyes hard. “I said run. I’ll catch up.”She hesitated, eyes stinging, heart torn. But then she nodded, took one last look at him… and ran.Elijah exhaled, low and steady. His hands curled into fists as he rolled up his sleeves slowly. “Alright then,” he muttered, stepping forward. “Which of you wants to go first?”The guards tensed, ready to charge.But a voice interrupted from behind.“Really, Elijah?” Alec stepped into the corridor, his tone calm—too calm. “Must everything end in violence with you?”Elijah’s jaw tightened. “Says the man who kidnapped my own daughter… and locked her in my own empire like a trophy.”Alec smiled faintly, brushing invisible dust off his designer blazer. “I thought you were a businessman, not som

Alec’s voice was still echoing like thunder in the marble hallway when Elijah’s eyes shifted—just slightly. Livia caught it. A flicker. A signal. Her trembling eased. Her eyes sharpened. As Alec continued monologuing—drunk on power, deaf to the danger—Livia’s small fingers twitched against the rope binding her wrists. “…if your game is boring,” Alec sneered, pacing like a lion. “Then I’ll kill her now.” That’s when Livia bit. Hard. “Aghh—!” Alec howled in pain as her teeth sank deep into his hand. The gun clattered to the floor with a metallic thud. “LIVIA, RUN!” Elijah roared. Livia sprang from the chair like lightning, her bruised arms pumping as she bolted. Elijah moved with bloodied vengeance—*charging*. With a primal yell, he *speared* Alec into the glass wall beside them. The two men crashed down hard, Alec’s head snapping back against the floor. “GO!” Elijah bellowed at Valeria, his voice hoarse but powerful. “Livia, this way!” Valeria screamed. Livia turned and s

Alec’s voice was still echoing like thunder in the marble hallway when Elijah’s eyes shifted—just slightly. Livia caught it. A flicker. A signal. Her trembling eased. Her eyes sharpened. As Alec continued monologuing—drunk on power, deaf to the danger—Livia’s small fingers twitched against the rope binding her wrists. “…if your game is boring,” Alec sneered, pacing like a lion. “Then I’ll kill her now.” That’s when Livia bit. Hard. “Aghh—!” Alec howled in pain as her teeth sank deep into his hand. The gun clattered to the floor with a metallic thud. “LIVIA, RUN!” Elijah roared. Livia sprang from the chair like lightning, her bruised arms pumping as she bolted. Elijah moved with bloodied vengeance—*charging*. With a primal yell, he *speared* Alec into the glass wall beside them. The two men crashed down hard, Alec’s head snapping back against the floor. “GO!” Elijah bellowed at Valeria, his voice hoarse but powerful. “Livia, this way!” Valeria screamed. Livi