Zurich 3:07 a.m.Rain streaked down the glass, the city lights blurring beyond it. Elena hadn’t moved for nearly ten minutes. The phone still sat in her hand, the image of Leonard and Wolfe burned into her mind.She whispered to herself, “Project Inheritance…”Her voice barely broke the silence. She tried to call Leonard again with no signal. The secure line was dead. That never happened. Not unless someone wanted it to.She turned toward the table, grabbed her laptop, and plugged the phone in. Within seconds, encrypted data began to transfer. She didn’t know who had sent those files, but she wasn’t going to wait for another ambush.A folder appeared on the screen: CLASSIFIEDINHERITANCE/TRIALS.Elena’s heart hammered. She clicked it open.A series of documents filled the screen most heavily redacted, names blacked out. But one word repeated again and again: Kane.She scrolled faster. Test results. Psychological conditioning. Military experiments. All dated years before Leonard had s

“Pull the feeds from every network,” Leonard ordered, voice low but iron-hard. “I want every headline that mentions Elena Carter flagged and scrubbed before noon.”“Yes, sir.”The assistant hurried off.He turned to Adrian. “And find out who leaked her photo. It wasn’t random.”Adrian frowned. “You think The Architect’s moving already?”Leonard leaned back, eyes dark. “He always starts with fear. Media first, threats second.” He tapped the edge of the desk. “He wants to isolate her.”Adrian’s phone buzzed. He looked down. “Then you should see this.”He handed the phone over.A single text.‘You can’t protect what’s already mine.’Leonard’s jaw clenched. “He’s watching.”“Want me to trace it?” Adrian asked.Leonard shook his head. “No. He’s too careful. I want him to think I’m reacting.” He rose from the chair. “Call Marcus. Tell him to tighten security around Elena. Nobody gets near her without clearance.”Adrian hesitated. “She won’t like that.”“I don’t care if she likes it,” Leonar

The alarms rang.Elena spun toward the door, red lights flashing across the vault walls.“Leonard?” she called, pressing the comms. No signal.Static hissed.Then a voice not his.“Mrs. Kane.”Her heart slammed in her chest. “Who is this?”“You can call me the inevitable.”The intercom buzzed again, smooth, male, mocking. “He hid you in a box. How romantic.”She backed toward the main console, scanning for an override. “Leonard will find you.”“I’m counting on it,” the voice said. “He’s predictable when you’re involved.”The lights dimmed again.A mechanical clunk echoed the vault door’s first lock disengaging.“No…” she whispered, panic creeping in.The second lock followed.Then the third.Elena grabbed the emergency tablet, typing commands. “Manual lockdown. Seal overrides.”ACCESS DENIED.She swore under her breath. “Come on!”The last lock hissed. Metal groaned.The massive door began to open.A tall figure stood silhouetted in the light beyond dark coat, mask covering half

The elevator doors slid open and Leonard stepped into the underground level of Hale Enterprises. Two men in dark suits waited beside a reinforced door. One of them scanned his ID; the other entered a code. The steel door hissed and opened.Inside was a long room lined with screens showing live feeds—streets, offices, even traffic cameras. In the center, Gabriel stood with his arms crossed.“Finally,” he muttered. “You really poked the hornet’s nest, Leonard.”Leonard walked straight to the table. “Good. Let them come.”Gabriel tossed a file toward him. “You don’t get it. The Architect isn’t reacting—he’s planning. Every one of your partners is suddenly under audit. Your accounts are being traced. He’s dismantling your circle piece by piece.”Leonard flipped the file open. Photos, transcripts, numbers. He didn’t flinch. “Then he’s desperate. He knows the truth is out.”Gabriel leaned closer. “And Elena? He’s watching her.”Leonard’s hand froze over the file. “What did you say?”“He’s b

Leonard stormed into the strategy room, already barking orders.“Lock down Levels 20 through 30. No one in or out without clearance.”Gabriel typed rapidly. “On it. But if The Architect already has someone planted inside ”“He does,” Leonard snapped. “And we’re flushing them out tonight.”Elena entered behind them, Mia supporting her.“What’s happening now?” Elena asked.Gabriel spun his monitor toward her.“Security detected movement on Level 23. Someone tried to override the biometric doors.”Elena’s eyes widened. “That’s ”“Where we moved you,” Leonard finished sharply. “He knew. He knew before you even arrived.”Mia cursed under her breath. “Then someone in this building is feeding him updates in real time.”Gabriel turned. “We’re tracking all outgoing signals, but whoever it is they’re good. They’re using ghost routing.”Leonard checked his watch, jaw tight. “He’s testing our response time.”Elena stepped closer. “Then what does he want?”“To scare you,” Leonard said. “To show me