Isabella made the call that night.Private number. Encrypted line. Contact she'd used once before for the assassination attempt on Jake.A man's voice answered. No greeting. Just, "Yes?""I need a team. Professional. Discrete.""What's the job?""Extraction. One target. Female. Mid-twenties. High-profile. I need to look clean. No witnesses. No trace.""Location?""New York City. Manhattan. Target has security but it's minimal. Ex-military bodyguard. Maybe two others."The voice was quiet for a moment. Calculating. "Timeline?""This week. Sooner is better.""The cost is two million. Half up front. Half on completion."Isabella didn't hesitate. "Done. I'll wire the deposit within the hour.""Send me target details. Photos. Schedule. Security profile. Everything you have.""You'll have it tonight.""Then we'll have your target within seventy-two hours."The line went dead.Isabella opened her laptop. Pulled up everything she had on Sophia Laurent.Photos from social media. Business artic

They regrouped at a safe location.Not Jake's penthouse. Too exposed. Derek had a backup safe house in Queens. Nondescript apartment. Cash rental. No records.Derek was conscious now. Concussed but coherent. Angry."They were waiting for me. Knew I'd come. Had someone watching the building. Hit me from behind the moment I found the rope marks."Sarah cleaned the cut on Carlos's forehead. "The whole thing was bait. False location. Rigged building. Designed to kill whoever came looking."Jake sat against the wall. Shoulder throbbing where debris had hit. "The System gave me that location. Said seventy-eight percent probability.""Then the System was wrong," Derek said. "Or Isabella fed it false information somehow. Planted evidence to lead us there.""How would she know I'd use the System?""She doesn't need to know. She just needs to plant enough false trails that any investigation leads to Pier 84. We found it. The FBI would've found it. Anyone looking for Sophia ends up there. And en

Jake raised his weapon. Hands steady now. Purpose overriding fear."I'm going in."Derek grabbed his arm. "Going where? The house? That's a death sentence.""Isabella's in there. If I get to her, she calls off the guards. This ends.""Or she kills you both.""Better than leaving Sophia here another second."Gunfire erupted again. Closer now. Guards tightening the perimeter.Sarah dropped two more. "We're running out of time! They're going to flank us!"Derek made a decision. "Fine. We create a diversion. Draw the guards away from the main house. Jake, you go in through the east entrance. Kitchen access. Should be minimal security.""Should be?""It's the best we've got. Carlos and I will hit them from the north. Sarah takes west. Triangulated fire. They'll focus on us. Gives you maybe ninety seconds.""Ninety seconds to find Sophia and get out?""Ninety seconds before they realize it's a diversion and come after you. Use them wisely."Derek handed Jake a radio earpiece. "Stay in conta

Jake stumbled. Fell. Hit the concrete floor hard.Sophia screamed. "JAKE!"Isabella's expression changed from triumph to shock. She'd meant to shoot Sophia. Hit Jake instead.Derek burst through the doorway. Gun raised. "FBI! Drop your weapon!"Behind him, five agents. Tactical gear. Weapons drawn.Isabella hesitated. Gun still in hand. Looking at Jake bleeding on the floor."I said drop it!" Derek's voice was steel.Isabella slowly lowered the gun. Set it on the floor. Raised her hands."He attacked me. I was defending myself.""Save it." Derek kicked the gun away. Grabbed Isabella. Spun her around. Zip-tied her wrists.An FBI agent rushed to Jake. "Gunshot wound. Chest. Right side. He's conscious but losing blood fast."Sophia dropped beside Jake. Grabbed his hand. "Stay with me. You're going to be okay. You have to be okay."Jake tried to speak. Blood in his mouth. "Did I... save you?""Yes. You saved me. You stupid, brave idiot. You saved me."Jake smiled. Weakly. "Worth it."The

Jake spent five days in the hospital.The Health Regeneration ability worked. Faster than doctors expected. Wounds closing. Strength returning."I've never seen anyone recover this quickly from a bullet wound," Dr. Moss said during rounds. "Your body's healing like you're twenty years old."Jake didn't explain. Just thanked the doctor and focused on getting stronger.Sophia rarely left his side. Sleeping in the hospital chair. Eating cafeteria food. Refusing to go back to her hotel."You should rest," Jake told her. "Get proper sleep. A real bed.""I'm not leaving you. Not after almost losing you.""I'm fine. Look. Sitting up. Walking to the bathroom. Eating solid food. I'm basically recovered.""You were shot in the chest five days ago. You're not recovered. You're just stubborn."Derek visited daily. Updates on the case. "Isabella's been formally charged. Attempted murder. Kidnapping. Conspiracy. The prosecutor's building a strong case.""What about bail?""Fifty million. Her family