y second felt like a hammer blow, each tick reminding him of how little time he had left

d space of the car. "We need to approach this smart, Al

possible leads. "They underestimated me when they sen

t. "I'm cross-referencing the location in that photo with every known Syndicate

ed face haunted him, but he forced himself to focus on the background-the timer, the m

ooming in on the image. "Concrete.

lied, his voice cold an

lettering on a wall behind Emilia. The letters were part

Nexor Logistics warehouse downtown. It was flagged

That's our lea

-

structure cold and uninviting. The surrounding area was eerily q

lling out a small drone from his bag.

eapon, every movement precise and deliberate. His em

one feed. "I see movement inside. Armed guards-at least fiv

d into a thin line

ross the warehouse. It was dimly lit, with rows of shi

id, pointing a

a, tied to the same chair from the photograph. She was

ictor said, reli

," Alex

"What's the plan? We can't just storm in ther

ovements. "I'll create a diversion. Draw their attention away from

ated. "That'

voice was steel. "She

ng with controlled adrenaline. He'd set up small explosives at key points aro

ed in his earpiece. "

ed slowly.

sending a plume of smoke and debris into the air. Sho

haos like a shadow. He took out one guard

could hear the guards shouting, their voices overlapping in co

his earpiece, his eyes scann

de of the warehouse, his focus entirely on Emilia.

muttered under his brea

ser, a sharp clic

gu

her," a voice gr

raised. A guard stood there, his

tor said, his voice cal

the device zipping down and incapacitating the guard before h

ing?" Alex's voice cam

working quickly. "But we've got a p

ould feel the walls closing in, th

-

versions, setting off the remaining explosives. The entire war

e unthinkabl

he warehouse, amplified

ht. Always

It was the

ce continued. "But you've f

to ice as he realize

lia," the man said, his t

explosion rocked the building, the fo

his ear, but Alex could barely hea

struggled to his feet, coughing

e haze, he

lanked by a group of Syndicate operatives. Emilia was i

head, his cold eyes

o our trap," he said. "A

Contin