Down on the country road, the air was thick with the stench of gasoline and burning rubber.Maya stood in front of Vivian with her feet planted wide, her service pistol raised, her knuckles white against the grip.Sweat dripped down the side of her temple, stinging her eyes. She came from three generations of elite military officers and had trained in hand-to-hand combat since she was six years old, but her academy drills had never prepared her for this.Six heavily armed mercenaries in ballistic masks were closing in on them like a pack of wolves."Stay back!" Maya shouted, her voice echoing off the rock wall behind them. She fired two warning shots into the dirt at their feet. Pfft! Pfft!The suppressed cracks were swallowed by the open mountain air. The men didn't even flinch. They knew the math. A standard police service magazine held fifteen rounds; they had automatic rifles, heavy combat knives, and absolute advantage.Two mercenaries lunged from the left. Maya reacted on instin

The ride back to the hillside villa was quiet, broken only by the low rumble of the sedan’s engine as Lorenzo navigated the winding mountain roads. Vivian sat in the backseat, her hand resting gently on Maya’s shoulder, while Maya sat in the passenger seat wrapped tightly in Lorenzo’s jacket, her eyes fixed stubbornly out the window.When they finally pulled into the private driveway of the estate, Lorenzo parked the car and stepped out, opening the passenger door to offer a hand. Maya ignored it completely, gripping the doorframe to haul herself up.She winced as her swollen ankle hit the pavement, but she gritted her teeth and limped toward the front entrance, refusing to show a single trace of weakness."You don't have to act like a martyr, Detective," Lorenzo said mildly, walking a step behind her with his hands in his pockets. "A sprain doesn't care about your military pride.""I am fine," Maya snapped, her voice slightly tight as she leaned on the grand mahogany front door. "I'v

"What gives you the right to pry into who is inside this house?" Maya snapped, her voice cutting through the doorway like a whip.She leaned heavily against the frame to keep her weight off her throbbing ankle, her dark eyes flashing with pure annoyance. "You're a neighbor, Salvador, not the property manager, and certainly not Vivian's warden. Mind your own business and get off the porch."Vivian’s expression turned equally frigid, her porcelain face setting into a mask of complete detachment. "My home is not open to your cross-examination, Romeo. Who comes into my living room is none of your concern. Leave."Romeo didn't back down. The sight of that jacket resting so comfortably on the leather couch had shattered his slick facade, laying bare the ugly, possessive obsession underneath.His knuckles turned white around the stems of the crimson roses as he tried to peer further past Vivian's shoulder."I'm not going anywhere until I see who's hiding in there," Romeo snarled, his tone dr

On the other end of the line, Director Garrick hesitated. The raspy voice sounded slightly displeased."Romeo...you know the corporate compliance board has been tightening security audits lately. Bringing in an unscreened ghost employee on a high-tier executive payroll isn't as simple as it used to be. I'd need to think about it. I can't just toss company money around without a proper paper trail."Seeing the director stall, Romeo immediately leaned into the phone, his tone eager and pressing."Director Garrick, please, consider my sincerity!" Romeo urged, shooting Lorenzo a smug, meaningful glance. "I promise you, sir, you won't be shortchanged on this. Remember the supply chain logistics contract we routed through your subsidiary last quarter? Haven't my family's former cooperations with Vanguard Apex shown more than enough sincerity?"There was a brief pause on the line, followed by the sound of Director Garrick chuckling softly, his tone warming up significantly."Ah...yes. The lo

The four bodyguards surrounding Lorenzo didn't hesitate. They surged forward in unison, their heavy leather boots squeaking against the marble as they launched a coordinated assault meant to crush him into the floor. At the exact same moment, the men holding Maya made the fatal mistake of shifting their weight, turning their attention toward Lorenzo to watch the beating unfold. Despite the searing pain radiating up her right leg, Maya’s military reflexes took over. She drove her heel sharply down onto the instep of the guard on her right, causing him to howl and loosen his grip. Shifting her hips, she snapped her left elbow backward with brutal force, striking the second man square in the bridge of his nose. A sharp crack echoed through the foyer. The man fell back, clutching his bloody face. "Don't touch her!" Maya roared. She spun on her good leg, using her momentum to drive a sweeping palm strike into the throat of the third thug, dropping him instantly to his knees, gasping