They all arrived at the spot together, Paul leading the way with his camera swinging against his chest.Sharon stopped the moment she stepped forward. “Wow… this is beautiful,” she said softly, taking in the wide open view. The sun was already dipping low, painting the sky in warm shades of orange and gold, the trees standing tall like silent witnesses.“Yeah, it really is,” Jayson agreed. Then he chuckled, nodding toward Zara and Paul. “Too bad those two can’t see what we’re seeing.”Sharon followed his gaze. Zara and Paul were already arguing about who had taken the wrong path, their voices rising and falling like children in a playground.“Are they always like this?” Sharon asked.Jayson sighed. “This is actually better. At least they’re not throwing punches.”Sharon’s eyes widened. “They throw punches?”“Well,” Jayson corrected himself, “Zara throws punches. Paul usually runs for his life.”Sharon burst out laughing. “Are you sure she’s your girlfriend? Anyone would think those t

The next morning, Jayson and Zara arrived at the airport early. Their passports were already in their hands as they stood patiently in line, waiting to be checked before entering the terminal.Zara sighed, shifting her bag on her shoulder. “Airports stress me out,” she muttered.Jayson chuckled. “You say that every time, yet you’re always the one traveling the most.”Before Zara could reply, a familiar voice came from behind them.“Going without me?”They both turned at the same time. Paul stood there with a casual smile, hands in his pockets, looking far too relaxed for someone at an airport.Zara’s mouth fell open. “What are you doing here?”Paul grinned. “What? Were you planning to leave and take all the praise for yourselves? I want to be called a hero too.”Jayson shook his head, laughing. “Seriously, man, you’re something else.”Paul glanced at the long line ahead of them and frowned. “But why are we standing here when we could just use my private jet?”Zara turned back to face

them,” Paul corrected. “I understand them. Then I take them apart safely.”Jayson rubbed his jaw slowly. “That explains… a lot.”“Explain what?” Zara asked.“Why he never panics when there's a problem,” Jayson said. “Why he’s always calm.”Paul smiled faintly. “When you’ve stared at a ticking device that could end a city block, everything else feels manageable.”Zara swallowed. “Who exactly hires you?”Paul hesitated for a moment, then answered honestly.“Governments, international security agencies, wealthy people who know they’re targets, corporations dealing with threats they can’t report.”“And museums,” he added. “Some artifacts are more dangerous than they look.”Zara shook her head slowly. “You really made something out for yourself with such little time. So, you're just out there, saving lives.”“I don’t think of it that way,” Paul said. “I just make sure things don’t go wrong.”Jayson ran a hand through his hair. “So… you’re like a military?”“No,” Paul shook his head. “I don

The meeting had gone smoothly, too smoothly, in Kendrick’s opinion. The high-end restaurant buzzed with soft music and low laughter as waiters moved between tables carrying expensive bottles and polished glasses. Kendrick Hale pushed his chair back, gathering his documents with practiced speed. His phone buzzed once in his pocket, and that alone was reason enough to leave.Just as he stood, a voice stopped him.“Mr. Hale.”Kendrick turned to see Mr. Davis rising from his seat, a hopeful smile stretched across his face. The other investors watched quietly, already sensing where the conversation was going.“Care to join us for a drink?” Mr. Davis said. “We’re having a small celebration. A party, really to mark our unification.”Kendrick gave a polite smile. The kind that didn’t reach his eyes.“That’s very kind of you, Mr. Davis,” he said calmly. “But I’m afraid I’ll have to decline.”Mr. Davis’s smile faltered. “Oh. I see.” He hesitated, clearly disappointed. “Mr. Hale must be very bu

While Kendrick drove them toward Hale Mansion, trouble was already unfolding somewhere else in the city.In a small, cramped apartment, a man moved like his life depended on it because actually, it did.Joe’s hands shook as he shoved photographs and papers into a small black bag. His breathing was uneven, sweat rolling down his face. Every little sound made him flinch. He kept looking over his shoulder, like someone might burst in at any second.“Damn it… damn it…” he muttered. He grabbed his phone with trembling fingers and dialed quickly.“Sia, pick up. Please, pick up,” he whispered desperately as the phone rang.No answer.His voice broke as he spoke again, panic creeping in. “Sia, it’s Joe. If you’re hearing this… I might already be dead.”His chest rose and fell rapidly. “There are people after me. Dangerous people. I found things, real evidence and now they want me gone.” He swallowed hard. “Listen carefully to what I…”Before he could finish, the sound of a car pulling into th