Meanwhile, Scott raced up the stairwell, his boots pounding against the steel. The roof access door loomed ahead, and he burst through it into the cool night air. The rooftop was a maze of vents and skylights, the city skyline a jagged silhouette against the fog. Kyle stood near the edge, his back to Scott, a pistol clutched in his trembling hand. He spun around as Scott approached, his eyes wild with desperation.“Stay back!” Kyle shouted, raising the gun. His voice was shrill, his earlier bravado gone. “You think you’ve won? You think this is over?”Scott didn’t slow his pace, his eyes locked on Kyle’s. With a flick of his wrist, he drew a small throwing knife from his belt and hurled it. The blade spun through the air, catching Kyle’s forearm with pinpoint accuracy. The gun clattered to the ground as Kyle cried out, clutching his bleeding arm. He stumbled backward, his face contorted in pain and fear.Scott closed the distance in three strides, his rifle slung over his shoulder

Brittany straightened, her confidence returning as she stepped forward. “The drug shipment went off without a hitch.” She said, her voice crisp and professional. “Three tons of product moved through the docks in Naples last night. Our contacts there handled the transfer to the offshore freighters, no cops and also no issues. The buyers in Istanbul confirmed delivery this morning, and the payment’s already been cleared through our encrypted accounts. Clean as a whistle.”Bobby nodded, picking up where she left off. “We also secured the new route through Albania.” He added, his tone steady but laced with pride. “Our man on the ground there bribed the right officials, so we’ve got a green light for the next six months. The trucks are already rolling, and we’ve got a secondary crew ready to handle any heat from local gangs. It’s locked down, Dad. We’re ahead of schedule.”Mr Steven Adams’s lips twitched into a faint smile, the first crack in his icy demeanor. “Good work.” He said,

The hotel parking lot was a quiet stage under the amber glow of streetlights, their beams slicing through the cool, rain-scented air like blades of light. The grand, ivy-covered hotel loomed behind, its windows glinting like watchful eyes, casting long shadows over the gravel where Lord Leo, Jack, and Emilia stood. The departing limousine’s taillights had faded into the night, leaving a heavy silence in their wake, broken only by the distant hum of Turin’s nightlife and the occasional drip of rainwater from the eaves. Emilia’s words hung in the air, sharp and knowing, her smile a mix of mischief and challenge as she faced Jack and Lord Leo.Lord Leo’s toothpick froze mid-roll, his eyes narrowing as he tilted his head, a sardonic smirk curling his lips. “What are you talking about, Emilia?” He drawled, his voice dripping with mock confusion, each word slow and deliberate, like a cat toying with its prey. He leaned back against the sleek black sedan, one hand casually tucked into his

“This… this is incredible.” She said, her gaze darting from Scott to the glowing screen, where Zulu’s interface pulsed like a living thing. “You’re really fighting a war from here, aren’t you?”Scott’s smile turned grim, his eyes glinting with a quiet intensity. “Something like that.” He said, his voice low, carrying the weight of unspoken battles. Allison stood beside him, her arms crossed, her expression a mix of pride and amusement as she watched Emilia’s reaction.But before Emilia could ask more, a soft beep sounded from one of the monitors, and Zulu’s voice cut through the room again, sharp and urgent. “Alert: unauthorized movement detected in sector seven. Surveillance feed indicates multiple armed individuals approaching the perimeter.” The screen shifted, displaying grainy footage of dark figures moving through the shadows, their silhouettes unmistakable against the glow of Turin’s skyline.Scott’s face hardened, his hand instinctively reaching for the pistol at his hip

Allison blinked, her eyes refocusing as if pulled from a distant memory. She forced a smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes, and let out a soft laugh that sounded more like a sigh. “Yeah.” She said, her voice steadier now, though the strain was still there. “That’s… yeah, that’s what happened. Jack’s family died in a crash, and my dad took him in. Been like a son to him ever since.” She nodded, as if convincing herself, her smile tightening as she met Emilia’s gaze.Emilia’s lips curved into a warm smile, her shoulders relaxing slightly. “That’s exactly what Jack told me.” She said, her voice bright with relief. “But… I guess I’m just curious. What were they like? Jack’s family, I mean. Who were they in society? Were they… important, or just regular people?” Her eyes sparkled with genuine interest, her hands clasped in front of her, her braid swaying as she leaned forward slightly.Allison’s smile froze, her eyes flickering with hesitation. She glanced away, her gaze la