Achilles watched with a flicker of shock. The gun was pointed at his chest. Point-blank range, Ethan's finger on the trigger.“I should have done this weeks ago,” Ethan said. “Just shoot you and be done with it. But I wanted you to suffer. I wanted you to watch everything fall apart first.”Achilles tutted his lips: “That's the difference between you and my father. He fought for something. You destroy things you lay hands on.”“I destroy the things that destroyed me.” Ethan's hand was steady. “Anthony left me to die. Britain celebrated him as a hero while I rotted in an enemy compound. The Archelords showed me more loyalty in a month than my own brother showed in thirty years.”Achilles shook his head: “What a story and you helped them frame and murder him.”“Yes. And I'd do it a million times over." Ethan smiled: “But you know what the best part is? You're going to die by my making. Shot on a rooftop, alone, forgotten. While I escape and

The helicopter cut through the night, pushing maximum speed. Inside, Achilles and the Faithfuls checked weapons, preparing for what should be their most dangerous mission yet.Margaret sat across from him, watching the tablet. The livestream continued. Fifteen million viewers now. The entire world was watching.“She's smart,” Margaret said: “Amara. She knew we'd evacuate the train stations. She knew the bombs there were fakes. This was always the real target.”“And now she's daring us to come get her.” Achilles studied the feed: “She wants us to assault the base. Amara wants the spectacle, dead British soldiers on camera. Two prominent citizens executed live; maximum psychological impact.”Margaret chimed in: “So we don't give her what she wants.”“No. We give her something worse.” Achilles pulled up the base schematics on his phone: “We go in quietly. Small team and extract the hostages before anyone realizes we're there.”“The base is surrounded by two hundred soldiers. Thermal sens

[Military Base Command Center]Margaret threw herself in front of Judge Thornton. The bullet hit her vest. She crashed to the floor, gasping.“Margaret!” Achilles fired at Amara, forcing her behind a concrete pillar.Brigadier Rachael Beauty pulled Margaret back: She's okay! Vest caught it!”Margaret wheezed, clutching her chest and bruised ribs, but alive. Amara's voice echoed from her cover: “You think you've won? This base, these hostages. All of it was just one of the phases!"“There's always another phase with you people!” Achilles' words reeked of mockery as he kept his weapon trained on her position: “Give it up! Your plan failed!”“Did it?”.Amara leaned out, fired twice. Achilles ducked: “Check your watch, warlord!”Achilles glanced down. The countdown on Dame Chen's detonator hadn't stopped. Dr. Lloyd had cut the wires, but the timer continued to run.4:47… 4:46… 4:45…“Doctor!” Achilles’ voice

Achilles stood over the captured operatives from the base assault. Commander Okafor had escaped from the building collapse. Commander Amara was in custody. But something had his mind swirling with thoughts.His phone rang from Brigadier Scott's call. His voice was tight with controlled panic:“Warlord, we have multiple vehicles approaching the safe house perimeter. Unknown make, moving fast.”Achilles' curiosity sparked: “How many?”“Three vehicles, could be six to twelve hostiles. We're going to lockdown protocol now.”“Get Gabrielle and Star to the panic room. Do it now!” Achilles turned to the pilot: “We need to get back to Liverpool immediately!"“Warlord, we're forty kilometers out—”“I don't care how far we are! My daughter is in danger! Move!”The helicopter banked sharply, turning back toward the city. Margaret grabbed her radio: “All units, we have a situation at the safe house location. Armed hostiles

Gabrielle was finally asleep. Achilles sat beside her bed in the secure quarters, watching her chest rise and fall. Star slept in the next room, exhausted.But Achilles couldn't sleep. His mind kept replaying the attack. Eight men, professional and equipped. They'd known exactly where to find his daughter.Someone had betrayed them.His phone vibrated. Margaret, texting: [Interrogation room. Warlord, you need to see this.]He kissed Gabrielle's forehead gently, left two armed guards at the door, and headed to the detention wing.Margaret met him outside: “One of the captured operatives is talking. Says he'll give us everything in exchange for witness protection.”“What has he told you so far?”“That Commander Okafor survived the Thames. She's been coordinating attacks against your family specifically. She gave them the safe house location.”Achilles felt cold rage against his chest: “Where is she now?”“He doesn't know, but he knows where they were supposed to meet after the job. An o