Allison’s eyes didn’t leave the screen. “That’s... Sector 9. A black site. Rumor is, it's where rogue agents vanish. No contact. No rescue. No exit.”Jack moved beside her and studied the flat screen’s map. The pulsing red dot inside the restricted zone was unmistakable.“He’s there.” Jack whispered. “But why?”Allison hesitated, as if the weight of the question bore too heavy to answer. “I don’t know…” She murmured. “He said that place is restricted. Highly. Why would he go there… all alone?”She turned from the screen and walked across the room to a tall, locked cabinet labeled ARMORY WARDROBE. She punched in a short code. The lock beeped and the doors creaked open, revealing rows of weapons,handguns, compact rifles, knives of every shape and sheen.Jack stepped up beside her. “What are you going to do?”Allison turned, her expression hard. “I’m going to get my father back.”Jack looked at Lord Leo, who gave a slow nod. “I’ll call Lord Williams. Let him know we won’t be bac

“I said drop your damn weapons. Do it now. Or I paint this wall with your guts!”The voice boomed behind them, laced with malice and grit. It echoed down the concrete corridor like a death sentence.Jack froze mid-step, his twin knives still sheathed along his lower back. His hands slowly rose,his fingers splayed casually, almost lazily like a man more annoyed than threatened.Lord Leo’s jaw clenched tight. He turned his head just enough to see the barrel of the shotgun hovering a few feet behind them. Then, with a grunt, he slowly crouched down and placed his pistol gently onto the floor.The metallic clink echoed like a bell.Allison stood rigid in front of them. Her fingers trembled on the grip of her firearm. Her shoulders rose and fell as she wrestled between instincts and fear, fury and restraint. Her jaw tightened.“You deaf, bitch?!” The henchman snarled, stepping closer, the barrel of his shotgun aimed square at her head. “I said drop it. Or I’ll splatter your brains across

The henchman swallowed hard. “It,it burned, boss.”“I know it burned. I’m asking why.”“I…i set off the detonation myself. I thought the fire team would arrive before it spread. We couldn’t risk exposure,someone had already infiltrated…”The voice turned colder. “Infiltrated? You mean… that pathetic spy didn’t come alone?”The henchman closed his eyes. “No, sir… he had help.”A pause. Then a low growl.“I see.”The henchman stammered. “I…I’m heading to Ware House Five now. It’s still safe,no one knows…”“Listen carefully.” The voice said, his tone clipped and razor-sharp. “Do not touch that warehouse. Do not breathe on it. You destroy one more asset of mine, and I will rip the skin from your bones myself.”“Yes, Boss.” The henchman whispered.The call ended with a beep that felt like a gunshot.The henchman sat there in silence for a moment, drenched in sweat.Then he floored the gas.Somewhere Else in Italy – Inside.In a darkened office,rain streaked across floor-to-ceiling w

The table stiffened. Even the clinking of cutlery paused.Lord Leo shifted in his chair. “What do you mean?”Emilia’s eyes didn’t blink. “I called the hospital this morning , the Damimod Italian Hospital and asked if you two checked in last night.” She leaned in slightly, voice calm but cold. “The receptionist told me no one by your name ever arrived.”Jack exchanged a swift glance with Lord Leo. His mind raced the excuse they’d rehearsed wasn’t holding.Jack straightened slightly and met Emilia’s eyes. “Which hospital did you say you called?”“The Damimod.” She repeated slowly, waiting.Lord Leo cleared his throat. “Well, that explains it. We went to a different one, the San Lucenzo Medical Institute. It’s on the outer edge of Venice, a bit remote, but... we were advised it’d be quieter.”Emilia paused, trying to read his expression. “San Lucenzo...?”“Yes.” Lord Leo nodded. “Smaller and fewer crowds.”Jack added.“I wasn’t feeling too great. Air sickness. Thought it would

Jack’s head slowly tilted, his brows knitted as Scott’s voice echoed in the lab.“What did you just say?” Jack asked, stepping forward, his voice thick with disbelief.Scott, seated on the edge of a metal table beneath the harsh fluorescent light, looked up with a sigh. “Ray Stevens… Drug Lord Fero… they're the same person.”Jack’s laugh cracked through the air like a brittle twig. He took a step back, his eyes wide with a cocktail of shock and denial. “That's Scott, that’s insane.” Jack said, gesturing as if to push the ridiculous thought away. “Ray? My cousin Ray Stevens? The same Ray who couldn’t even hold eye contact for more than two seconds? That kid hated crowds, hated noise,he used to cry during family dinners! You're saying he's a drug lord now?”Scott stood up now, calm but visibly heavy with emotion. “I knew you wouldn’t believe me.” He said, his tone soft, crossing the room toward Allison who was already standing near the massive digital wall screen. She tapped at t