Lena run

replaying Aiden's last words: Run. She clutched the notebook tighter, her hands trembling.

-or was he? His confession haunted her. Could she tru

d her back to reality. Shadows stretched behind he

n open door to a candlelit bistro and slipped inside. She weaved th

t open as she crouched in the darkness. Pages were filled with c

mored to have ties to every major player in Vanguard Indu

arded, paranoid, and dangerous. Yet, with Ai

startling her. The message

come to 38 Rue des Roses.

an cold. Th

she couldn't abandon him. Not after everything. She flagged a c

-

windows shattered and overgrown with ivy. Lena stepped

familiar v

ood. His hands were tied, and his face was pale but defiant.

Moreau said, his voice smooth as silk. He gestured to

k tightened. "Why does Van

ything we've built-and the evidence to destroy it. You th

his eyes pleading silen

ard and holding out the noteboo

Lena pulled a small vial from her pocket-pepper spray

ebook into the air, scattering its pages. Chaos

exit. Gunfire erupted behind them as they burst

-

hours later, Lena stitched

" he muttered,

d. "You're

faces close, Aiden whispered, "Len

heart pounding. "I c

ey both knew it wasn't over. Vanguard would c

ght. Together, they

ger, had a way of find