CHAPTER FIFTY-TWORaze’s pistol gleamed under the harsh loading bay lights as snow continued to swirl in through the partially sealed outer doors. He gestured lazily with the barrel between the two of them.“Choose, Zane. You or her. One lives, one dies. Make it quick.”Zane remained silent, his expression was unreadable. Internally, he thought: He had gained nothing from Trigger — only endless complications. They had been business partners at best, nothing more.Yet time after time he had compromised his safety, his fortress, and his carefully built isolation for her. He still didn’t know if she was ultimately a friend or a very dangerous foe.If he chose to save himself now, no one could call him a sinner. But these people didn’t honor deals. He knew that in his bones.Trigger stood rigid beside him, breathing shallow. She said nothing.Raze waited a few seconds, then chuckled darkly. “No choice? Fine. I’ll kill you both.”Zane finally spoke in a calm voice. “Before I die, you would

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOURZane took two unsteady steps away from the shattered perimeter before the world tilted violently. His vision blurred, legs buckling under him as the accumulated damage — sub-harmonic disruption, blood loss, and the lethal cold finally breaking through — hit him all at once.He staggered.“Zane!”He collapsed.Trigger rushed forward and caught him before he hit the ground. Grunting from the pain in her ribs, she dragged his limp body back inside the main Fortress building, sweat mixing with the melting frost on her skin.She laid him on the wide couch, then pressed her hand to his forehead. He was burning up badly. A dangerous fever.“Shit… Zane, wake up!” She shook him lightly, but he remained unconscious, breathing shallow and ragged.Trigger didn’t waste time. She ran to the heavy bunker access door that led to the lower levels where the medical supplies and advanced equipment were stored. She yanked the manual override handle, then tapped rapidly on the control s

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX—Two Days Ago—Trigger had just finished pulling on a fresh shirt. She let out a long, tired breath, rolling her shoulders. Talking to Collin alone was exhausting. The brief moment of peace lasted less than thirty seconds.Knock. Knock-knock. Knock.The rhythm was unmistakable. Trigger’s jaw tightened with irritation. She knew exactly who it was.“Come in,” she called, not bothering to hide the annoyance in her voice.The door opened and Rex stepped inside, tall and imposing, exuding that dangerous charisma he wielded like a weapon.He was dressed in a fitted black tactical sweater, his scarred but handsome face carrying a cool, almost nonchalant expression.When he smiled at her, it was the kind of smile that could disarm most women in seconds.“Trigger,” he drawled, closing the door behind him. “You look like you just had company. Hope I’m not interrupting anything important.”Trigger crossed her arms. “What do you want, Rex?”He chuckled softly and leaned against

CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHTThe heavy reinforced doors of the Black Vultures’ base groaned shut behind Trigger, cutting off the howling wind and the crimson-stained snow outside. The air inside was colder than it should have been, but still warmer than the deathly frost above ground. Emergency lights cast harsh shadows down the long corridors.In the main assembly hall, the Black Vultures were already lined up and waiting. The news had spread like wildfire through the ranks. Rex was dead. Razz had been dragged in unconscious. And the woman called Trigger now held the gang seal.Hundreds of armed, battle-hardened men stood in formation, their breaths fogging in the chilled air. The hall fell deathly silent as Trigger walked in.She moved authoritatively despite her injuries. Blood soaked through her jacket from the stomach wound, and her left shoulder hung heavy and stiff. Frost still clung to her hair and lashes. In her right hand, she held the Black Vultures’ gang seal high. She stopped at

Hi amazing readers! I hope you’re all doing well. First, I want to sincerely thank every single one of you for reading my book and giving this story a chance. I know this genre path is a little complex, and some parts may feel confusing right now, but please be patient and trust the process. Everything is unfolding exactly as it should. Expect the unexpected, and get ready for even more suspense, secrets, and shocking revelations ahead. A quick overview regarding Chapter Fifty-Nine: Some of you may remember that Madelyn was suffering from pneumonia and was given a green pill by Raze. That detail was not random. We’re about to explore what that pill truly was, the consequences of taking it, and the disturbing effects it carries. Spoiler: Madelyn would have died even without Edgar’s interference. The green pill has a deeper psychological purpose. It is connected to the Master and his ability to influence or even control a person’s psychological state. When Madelyn began exposing dan