Two days to the wedding of Hazel Hades and Alan Walker. The city of Silver Lace was in a festive mood. Not only was Gold Aries running a discount for their clients and patrons, even the Hades family were doing the same.People that didn't care about the lives of the rich and wealthy began to join in the excitement going on. Who wouldn't want to take advantage of such discounts?!Hazel cleared most of her schedule ahead of the wedding, allowing herself to focus on the process.But it was two days to the wedding, yet, Alan was nowhere to be found.Hazel stared at the magazine Clara had given her to preview. There were many holiday resorts they could pick for the honeymoon. Her eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep and she yawned every couple of minutes, tired and drowsy.Seeing Hazel staring absentmindedly, Clara asked casually, “Have you been worrying about the wedding?”Hazel snapped back to reality, sending a sad smile towards Clara.“It's just that the wedding is in two days and he

Melodic sounds echoed out of the church as the program began. The priest was standing in front of the altar, with Alan.A gentle rustle of excitement swept through the crowd as the bride, resplendent in her ivory gown, entered the hall. Her father, beaming with pride, offered his arm, and together they walked down the aisle.As they approached the altar, the wedding party stood up: the best man - Pietro, the maid of honor, and groomsmen. The officiant, a warm smile on his face, welcomed everyone.The officiant began, “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Hazel and Alan in marriage.”Alan and Hazel exchanged tender glances as the officiant spoke of love, commitment, and the journey ahead in marriage.* At the end of the street, a man in black vest jogged to the black vans. After talking a bit with the scarred man in the first van, the scarred man smiled and gave an order to the driver beside him. The vans rumbled to life and they soon left.* “Hazel Hade

The hidden panel slid open with a soft click.Alan reached inside and pulled out a compact assault rifle, two pistols, spare magazines, combat knife, and a satellite phone—all sealed in vacuum-packed plastic. He tore them open efficiently, his hands moving fluidly.Hazel watched from the doorway, her breath shallow."You installed a weapons cache. On our honeymoon island.""I install them everywhere." He checked the rifle's chamber without looking up. "Old habit.""That's not normal, Alan.""Neither is a rocket launcher through the breakfast window." He handed her one of the pistols. "Do you know how to use this?"She stared at it, "Vaguely.""Safety's here. Point, squeeze, don't hesitate." He met her eyes. "Can you do that?"Hazel swallowed and nodded.The man who clipped the spare magazines to his belt and checked the knife's edge was not the same man who had cooked her breakfast twenty minutes ago. The warmth was still there, buried somewhere deep, but everything else had shifted.

Alan used Kane's own belt to secure his wrists, then sat him against the cave wall and crouched in front of him, letting him catch his breath. Kane's nose was still bleeding, dripping steadily onto the wet rock between them.Hazel hadn't moved. She was still holding the pistol with both hands, watching the exchange like someone who had just realised the film she was watching was an entirely different genre to what she'd expected."How did you find us?" Alan asked.Kane spit blood to the side. "Information purchase. Midnight Bazaar.""What kind of information?""Full identity package." Kane met his eyes without flinching. "Real name. Photograph. Current location. The Warlord call sign tied to all of it."Alan felt something cold move through his chest. He kept his expression still."Who sold it?""Anonymous listing. Trident bought the package and auctioned the contract." Kane paused. "We were the winning bid."Behind him, Alan heard Hazel draw a slow breath."Grigori authorised this?"

At a particular fishing port, a handful of local fishermen watched the private boat dock with the mild curiosity of people who had learned not to ask questions about vessels that arrived before dawn with too many serious-looking men aboard. One of them went back to untangling his nets before the lines were even secured.Alan stepped off first, scanning the dock out of habit. Pietro followed with two other operatives, the last two flanking Kane, who walked with his wrists bound and his broken nose packed with gauze Pietro had found in the boat's medical kit. Kane hadn't spoken since the cave. He moved when directed, stopped when directed, and kept his eyes forward.Hazel came off last, adjusting the oversized jacket Pietro had given her somewhere on the open water. She looked around the port, took in the weathered buildings and the smell and the fishermen pretending not to stare, and said nothing. She had stopped asking where they were going somewhere around the third hour at sea. Ala