LThe morning sunlight crept slowly across Cole’s living room, painting long streaks of gold across the floor. But Cole didn’t feel its warmth. He sat on the edge of the couch, elbows on his knees, staring into nothing.It had been three days since Fiona traveled, and the house already felt empty. Too quiet. Too cold.He rubbed his hands together, restless.Something was wrong.Not wrong in the obvious way — not like a threat he could point at or punch — but wrong in the air. Something he could feel in his bones.“Why does it feel like the world shifted without me noticing?” he muttered.Before he could think further, the door opened and Mendes walked in with urgent steps.“Cole,” Mendes said breathlessly, “you need to see this.”Cole stood. “What’s going on?”Mendes handed him a newspaper and a tablet screen.Headlines flashed in bold letters:“Unexplained delays hit local businesses.”“Investors panic as transaction failures spread.”“Financial instability approaching? Experts weigh

Cole sat in the dim light of his living room, staring at the message on his phone:“You’re running out of time.”His fingers trembled slightly as he typed back:“So are you.”He didn’t know who sent it. Could be an ally. Could be a spy. Either way, it confirmed what he already feared — Uzumaki’s reach was growing.Mendes leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. “You really think he’ll act now?”Cole shook his head slowly. “It’s not about if. It’s about when. And when he moves, it’s going to be precise. Calculated. And lethal.”Mendes frowned. “Then we wait for him to slip?”Cole clenched his fists. “We don’t wait. We watch. Every move, every associate, every connection. Uzumaki is patient, but he’s human. And humans make mistakes.”⸻Trojan and Blake — Cracks in the AllianceAcross the city, Trojan paced his penthouse apartment. The glow of his laptop illuminated the worry lines on his face. He had sent messages, made calls, and coordinated with Uzumaki’s teams for weeks. Every sys

The safe house fell into a tense rhythm after the call.Cole moved with purpose, checking locks, scanning camera feeds, repositioning the men John Mendes had gathered. Every motion was deliberate, controlled, but inside his chest, something burned. Uzumaki had crossed from shadow games into open threat. Worse—he had said Fiona’s name.Fiona watched Cole from the doorway. She recognized that look. It was the same one he wore when he made decisions that couldn’t be undone.“You’re thinking about going after him,” she said.Cole didn’t look back. “I’m thinking about ending this.”“That’s not the same thing,” she replied quietly.He finally turned. “It is, if I do it right.”Fiona stepped closer. “Cole, Uzumaki wants you reckless. He wants you emotional.”“And I want him predictable,” Cole said. “He’s tightening control because he thinks I’m cornered. That’s when men like him make mistakes.”She studied his face, searching for doubt. There was none.⸻Trojan’s DoubtAcross the city, Troja