plosion's aftermath. Alex's ears still rang, the muffled chaos around him playing like a distorted symph

peratives had them surrounded, their weapons trained with pre

d, his voice smooth, amplified by the intercom syst

is fists. "You

through the smoky space. "And you act too reckle

ng-anything-that could shift the odds. He spotted an overtu

his voice steady despite t

oward Victor and Emilia. "You've spent all this time protecting her, but you never as

pped. "What are yo

of the operatives stepped forward,

ed, but a gun was pressed

d, his movements delibe

errupted. "We don't want to

y, her voice barely

oward the fuel drum, using the element of surprise to his advantage. He kicked i

the drum. The bullet struck, igniting a burst o

tor!" Alex

He grabbed Emilia and bolted toward

pping back into the shadows as if the fi

his voice still calm. "But y

Emilia's escape. He fired at the remaining opera

ed as Victor re

ated. "What

this. Get her

through the door with Emilia,

-

Alex reloaded his weapon. "You're brave, I'll give you t

unding. He needed to buy more time

e," Alex called out,

s," the masked man replied, his voice co

ered and died, plunging th

ed low, moving silently through the s

unted. "I've been watching you for years, A

nds of movement around him. The operatives

h a swift, silent takedown. But every second f

ence. "Do you know why the Syndicate

grip tightenin

man continued. "She's not t

d. "What the hell ar

ou? You've been a thorn in our side for too long

. He wanted to dismiss them as lies, but t

ex said, his voice

icate go to such lengths for a girl with no real connection to

true, then everything-the threats, the abduction,

smart, Alex. But emotions make even the smar

ily. When his vision adjusted, he saw the masked man standing

ng a remote detonator, "it's t

e noticed the explosives

man said, "or die try

detonator began

Contin