Inside a secure underground bunker at an unknown location, Raziya stood upright in her zipped-up black cardigan and saluted Alex as he entered with Captain Williams at his side.“It’s an honor to stand in your presence again, Supreme Commander! Raziya Durrani reporting for active duty!”Alex looked at her and nodded approvingly. “I am glad you could show up on such short notice. You have done me a great favor, and for that I shall always be grateful.”Raziya’s stone-faced military discipline and professionalism quickly gave way to enthusiastic adoration as her heart leaped just by hearing the high praise from Alex.“The honor is all mine, Commander!” She exclaimed, admiring Alex with her kohl-smitten hazel eyes.Alex turned to Captain Williams and proceeded promptly with the introductions.“Captain, I would like you to meet Raziya Durrani, the fabled Sand Viper from the East. She has been a valuable asset to me during my most critical anti-insurgency and assassination operations. And

Marcus reached Denny’s Diner right on the stroke of midnight, getting down from his cab a mile down the road and making the rest of the journey on foot to avoid raising alarms.The Diner had the closed signboard out front, but Marcus knew it was just another trick to keep the public at bay.Remembering his first briefings, he walked up to the front door and knocked thrice, each succeeding one at two-second intervals.After the third and final knock, the door parted slightly, and a gruff voice spoke from the other side.“The diner is closed. Read the sign.”“I am here for a quick smoke,” Marcus replied.Hearing the secret code, the muscular guy in the black tee unlatched the door and held it open before stepping to one side.“The Jackal has been expecting you. Please come in.”Marcus walked straight in and made his way through the maze of old wooden tables and stout steel chairs to reach a man dressed in a black suit and red tie, wearing a pair of dark blue shades.He was surrounded by

The call from Godrick added another dangerous variable to the already complicated equation, escalating Alex’s problems.Although Alex had already visited Wickerville and done everything to sort the matter diplomatically with Michael Marston, he had his doubts about Logan bending to his father’s will. And now it became amply clear to him that the prodigal son was out for revenge.Captain Williams quickly noticed the change in Alex’s expression, and it darkened his own visage.“Is something wrong, Commander?”“Not yet. But I expect something to go wrong very soon,” Alex replied.“The Brotherhood?” Raziya piped.“The Brotherhood is already there on my mind, Raziya, but now we have something else to deal with,” Alex replied before turning to Captain Williams. “Captain, I need your best commandos posted around Kronos Tech and Femme Fatale. We need to beef up security arrangements. And when that’s done, I want you to take your Phantom Squad with you and travel to the Northern Mountains. Pro

Time stilled to a nervous freeze as Alex’s finger curled around the trigger.Logan’s life flashed before his eyes as he stared down the barrel of his greatest mistake ever.“Please, I am sorry! Don’t kill me!” he eventually squealed, shivering in terror. “I…realize my mistake. I…swear…I’ll never bother you again. It was Ross…he got me into this!”Alex had seen many a man turn pale in the face of death and betray not just their comrades but their ideals as well.However, Logan’s apology had come just a little too late. The damage had already been done, and Alex was way past the stage of forgiveness.“You hijacked my trucks and held the drivers captive. It disrupted business and caused tremendous security concerns. I still chose to resolve things without violence. You tried to plot with Ross Spencer to kill me. But I tried to give you another chance. I thought you were just misguided. But clearly, you’ve proven me wrong.”“I’ll do anything you say!” Logan pleaded, his voice small and cr

Alex knew that Michael Marston wasn’t going to stay quiet after his son’s death. But the chances of him reacting immediately were negligible since the cops were already investigating the attack on Alex’s penthouse.Michael wasn’t as stupid as Logan, and even though he had lost his only boy, Alex had read him well enough to know that he would never let his family name be tainted in the public eye.As news of Logan’s death reached Oliver, he thanked God for guiding him in the right direction before it was too late.He attended Logan’s funeral quietly but didn’t speak a word about Alex or Ross.Once the service ended, Logan’s mother, Claire Marston, approached Oliver of her own accord.“Thank you for attending my son’s funeral. You know, Logan used to speak a lot about you and Ross,” she spoke softly, her words laced with grief. “I wonder why Ross didn’t show up. Maybe he is busy.”Oliver turned to her, but he didn’t dare to look into her eyes since he knew Ross was the one who had broug