s in t

her mind still reeling from the confrontation with her father. The conversation had left her with more questions th

r phone buzzed insistently.

ca

Tonight. No del

ear from him so soon, but something in his tone-sharp, demanding- made he

texted

er

onse was

use. 9 PM. Don

that had long been abandoned but was notorious for its shadowy dealings. She considered ignoring the warni

ialed the one person she trusted in her inner circle- Darr

d, sounding alert d

n the east docks," she said quickly. "Luc

n his tone sharpened. "On my way

the city lights flicker in the distance. The skyline, usually so familiar and com

hought grimly. No

faint glow of streetlights. Rosie's car pulled up to the edge of the lot,

icle first and holding the door open f

way inside. The warehouse smelled of dust and rusted metal,

sion tense. He looked like he hadn't slept

red, glancing at Darren before focu

can tell," Rosie replied sha

ng faster than we thought. He's planning something big-a merger that's a co

ch churning as she recognized signatures a

, grim. "But there's more. Hale suspects a mole.

n cold. "And you

you. Which is why we need to act now. We expose this

forward. "Wha

t just any outlet. We need someone clean, someone Hale can't buy off.

"Samantha Lee. Investigative journalist. She's fearless and has be

"Good. Set it

ut, gripping her arm tightly. "We're not alone," he hi

th hitched as a figure emerged from the shadows. A man, tall

e smooth and dangerous. "Looks lik

cognize him, but she didn't need to.

rren barked, stepping prot

senger. Victor sends hi

e pulled a gun from his coat

zed by fear. But before the shot rang out, Darren lunged,

a

stillness, echoing thr

und wildly. Lucas had drawn his own weapon, firing back as the man re

" Darren demanded, gr

eath coming in short gasps

spot where the intruder had vanished. "That

blur of fear and fury. "Then we don't wait for n

g fierce and unyielding spar

ver been higher. But one thing was clear: she was done being a

that followed the gunfire was thick, pressing down on all of them like a weight. Rosie's brea

e steered her behind a stack of crates for cover.

"Not yet. That man wou

ir. Rosie held her breath, her back pressed tightly against the cold metal. Every instinct

darting between shadows. "We're pinned," he mu

"We don't have the fi

e whispered. "At the far end of the building. W

quick look of app

ded. "P

and commanding. "Darren, you cover

Rosie's hand, pulling her to h

ouse. The air felt colder back there, damp and heavy with the scent of oil and rust. Rosie's breath ca

" she w

or the handle, a voice r

ng so

The man from earlier had returned, this time with backup-thr

f Rosie. "Get out of here," he hissed at h

head fiercely. "

Touching. But I'm afraid

of the thugs dropped like a stone, a bullet tearing through his shoulde

g, his gun steady as he fired again, sendi

Lucas

ing like a war drum. They spilled out into the cold night air, lungs

n still raised as he scanned the pe

open and shoving Rosie inside before diving in after her. Luca

osie sc

ires screeched as he floored it, the car t

iew mirrors, searching for headlights, for any sign of pursuit. But th

the steering wheel. "We're clear," he said, th

er entire body shaking. "What th

A message. Hale's playing for kee

's events like a broken record. The fear was still there,

her voice stronger than she felt

g fierce and unyielding in h

still on high alert. "First, we get some

e documents that could bring Hale's empire crashing down. He

e murmured. "But he's the o

ise hanging between them: they would finis