Inside the glass tower of Kane Consortium, the lights burned through the storm. The war had begun.Adrian stood by the window, phone pressed to his ear. “Yes, freeze every Stonecliff account that moves through our network. No exceptions.”He ended the call as Leonard walked in, his expression carved from steel.“Status?” Leonard asked.“Stonecliff just dumped another billion in assets. They’re trying to crash the market,” Adrian replied. “But we’re countering every move.”Leonard loosened his tie, eyes fixed on the map of glowing red indicators across the wall screen. “They’re not doing this alone. Someone’s feeding them inside information.”Adrian frowned. “A mole?”Leonard nodded. “Find them. Fast.”The door opened and Elena stepped in, soaked from the rain, hair clinging to her face. “You didn’t come home.”Leonard didn’t turn. “I told you I’d be late.”She took a few steps closer. “Late? Leonard, it’s three in the morning.”Adrian glanced between them, then muttered, “I’ll check o

The night refused to end.The rain had slowed, but thunder still rolled across the skyline.Leonard sat alone in his office, the flash drive resting on the table like a loaded gun.He hadn’t moved in an hour.The door opened quietly. Adrian stepped in, his shirt torn, blood dried near his collar. “You should’ve told me she was alive.”Leonard didn’t look up. “You’re lucky you are.”Adrian walked closer, grimacing. “She moves like a ghost. Two of her men are ex-Stonecliff security. They knew our systems too well.”“She trained me,” Leonard said. “It makes sense she’d know how to break through my walls.”Adrian’s voice lowered. “She left this?”Leonard nodded. “The flash drive.”Adrian frowned. “You opened it?”“No.”“Why not?”Leonard finally looked at him. “Because she said what’s inside would burn everything. Including Elena’s family.”Adrian scoffed. “You think she’s bluffing?”“I don’t know.” Leonard rubbed his temple. “But if she’s telling the truth, then everything I’ve fought fo

“WESTWOOD EMPIRE COLLAPSES LINKED TO STONECLIFF’S BLACK OPERATIONS.”Reporters swarmed the streets outside the Westwood estate. Drones hovered over the gates. Cars lined the road, cameras flashing every second.Inside the mansion, chaos reigned. Phones rang, alarms blared, and lawyers shouted over each other.Robert Westwood stood in his office, tie undone, staring at the breaking news. His empire, his life’s work was burning live on television.“Shut it off!” he barked.The assistant hesitated. “Sir, it’s everywhere ”“I said shut it off!” he roared, throwing a glass against the wall.The assistant fled.A moment later, the door opened again and Victoria, his wife, stepped in. Pale, trembling. “It’s true, isn’t it?” she whispered. “Everything they’re saying…”Robert didn’t answer.Her eyes filled with tears. “My God, Robert. What did you do?”He turned away, unable to meet her gaze. “What I had to.”She shook her head. “No. What you chose to.”Across the city, Leonard and Adria

By the time dawn broke, the city was hushed, the streets still wet, the sky pale gray. Inside the safehouse, the silence was heavier than the rain outside.Leonard sat at the long table, fingers wrapped around a cup of untouched coffee. The screen before him flickered with files, encrypted folders, time stamps, coded signatures. Marina’s final gift.Adrian paced nearby, restless. “I don’t like this. Whoever shot her wasn’t just cleaning up a loose end. They knew exactly when you’d be there.”Leonard’s eyes didn’t leave the screen. “Someone’s feeding them my movements.”“An inside leak?”“Has to be.”Elena stood near the door, arms crossed tightly. Her face was pale, hair still damp from the rain. “Then start talking,” she said quietly. “Because if I’m being hunted too, I deserve to know why.”Leonard finally looked up at her. “You already know why.”“No,” she said sharply. “I know pieces. Rumors. Shadows. You keep telling me you’re protecting me, but from what? From who?”Adrian shift

“Adrian, status.” Leonard’s voice was tight, low.“We’re at the service entrance. Two guards at the back, one on rotation. I’ve got a man on the roof for extraction,” Adrian replied, breath controlled. “I’ll move the first pair when I give the signal.”“Do it now,” Leonard hissed.There was the sound of a suppressed commotion muffled footsteps, a soft scuffle. Then: “Clear. Moving to the north corridor.”Leonard’s palms were slick. He listened to the wet echo of boots down the hall beyond the door. The ropes cut into his wrists, but he kept steady. He needed every second.A faint scraping, then a whisper through the wall Elena, near, breathing hard. “Leonard… I’m okay. I can hear them.”“You stay quiet,” he breathed back. “Adrian’s almost in.”Outside, metal groaned. A lock clicked. A soft voice: “Adrian, now.”“Copy,” came the reply. In the corridor, a pair of guards were taken down with one swift knot and a soft thud. Footsteps approached the room.Quinn’s voice floated in from