KAEL

The convoy screeched to a halt, vehicles forming a tactical perimeter around the warehouse. Doors flew open. Men poured out, in black tactical gear, my security team in matching formation, Agent Morrison’s people taking positions behind armored trucks. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Searchlights blazed to life, illuminating the building like a stage.

I stepped out of the lead vehicle, rifle in hand, scanning the structure with trained eyes. Five stories. Multiple entry points. Windows on every level, perfect for snipers. Rooftop access visible.

A fortress.

"Perimeter secure!" Hayes’s voice crackled over the radio. "No movement visible. Building appears occupied but defensive."

"All units hold position," I commanded, moving toward the forward command post Morrison was setting up behind an armored truck. "Snipers, find elevated positions. I want eyes on every exit, every window. Nothing moves without me knowing about it."

"Copy that."

"SWAT teams, prepare for breach on my signal. Multiple entry points, main entrance, service doors, rooftop access if possible."

Morrison appeared beside me, his tactical vest marked with FBI insignia. "Mr. Roman, we should attempt communication first. Standard protocol, "

"Do it." I raised my voice to carry across the convoy. "THIS IS THE FBI! EXIT THE BUILDING WITH YOUR HANDS UP! YOU ARE SURROUNDED!"

The words echoed off concrete and glass, then faded into silence.

No response.

No movement.

Just the building sitting there like a predator waiting to strike.

"Thermal imaging?" I asked.

One of Morrison’s techs pulled up a tablet showing heat signatures. "Multiple contacts. I’m counting... fifty to sixty individuals. Concentrated on ground floor and rooftop."

"Rooftop." My jaw clenched. "They’ve got high ground. Sniper positions."

"We’re exposed here," Hayes said quietly. "They could start picking us off anytime."

"Then we move fast." I checked my rifle, muscle memory taking over. "Alpha team takes main entrance with breaching charges. Bravo flanks through service entrance. Charlie—"

My phone buzzed.

Everyone froze.

I pulled it out slowly, already knowing what I’d see.

Unknown number. Video message.

My finger hovered over the screen.

"Sir?" Hayes moved closer.

I opened it.

The video loaded, and my entire world collapsed.

Aria.

On her knees on what looked like a rooftop, the warehouse rooftop, confirmed by the visible air conditioning units and water tower in the background.

But that wasn’t what destroyed me.

It was the vest.

The bomb vest strapped to her chest, wires visible, LED display glowing red. Professional construction. Military-grade explosives from what I could see. Enough to vaporize her and anyone within twenty feet.

Her face was a mess, bruises in various stages of healing, split lip, one eye swollen nearly shut. She was trembling, tears streaming down her cheeks, her breathing rapid and panicked.

The camera panned to the side.

Andrew’s face filled the screen, smiling.

"Hello, brother."

My hand tightened around the phone hard enough that the case creaked.

"Before you do anything stupid, " the camera swung back to Aria, focusing on the bomb, "...one wrong move, and she’s gone."

The video zoomed in on Andrew’s hand. A detonator. Small, black, with a red button under his thumb.

"You try to breach?" Andrew’s voice continued off-screen. "She dies. You try to be clever with your snipers or your tactical teams? She dies. You don’t do exactly what I say? She. Dies."

Close-up of Aria’s face. She was looking directly at the camera, directly at me, mouthing words I couldn’t hear but could read: Don’t come. Please don’t come.

"Your choice, Kael," Andrew said. "Be smart. For once in your life, be smart."

The video ended.

I stood there, phone in hand, everything inside me screaming.

"Sir?" Hayes’s voice seemed to come from very far away.

I looked up. Everyone was watching me, waiting for orders.

"STAND DOWN!" The command tore from my throat. "EVERYONE HOLD POSITION!"

Confusion rippled through the ranks.

"DO NOT BREACH!" I shouted into my radio. "REPEAT: DO NOT BREACH! SHE HAS A BOMB!"

"What?" Morrison moved closer. "What are you, "

I shoved the phone at him, letting him watch the video. His face went pale.

"Jesus Christ."

"Sir, what are our orders?" someone asked over the radio.

I forced myself to think. To calculate. To find an angle, any angle.

But there wasn’t one.

Andrew had me.

Completely.

"Stand by," I said into the radio, my voice hollow. "Nobody moves until I say."

Ash’s voice crackled through my earpiece, she was monitoring from the mobile command center. "Kael, what’s happening? Why did we abort?"

I forwarded her the video without speaking.

A pause. Then: "Fuck. Oh fuck, Kael, "

"I know."

"He’s got her rigged to blow. If we breach—"

"I know."

My phone rang. The same unknown number.

I answered, putting it on speaker so Morrison and Hayes could hear.

"Glad you’re being reasonable," Andrew said, sounding pleased with himself. "For a moment, I thought you might do something stupid."

"How is this going to go down?" My voice was flat. Controlled. But underneath, rage like I’d never felt before.

"Simple. You’re going to come inside. Alone. My men will disarm you, thoroughly, I should add. They’re very good at finding hidden weapons and tracking devices. Then you’ll sign some papers transferring all of Roman Holdings to me. Every asset, every account, every property. Everything."

"And then?"

"Then maybe, MAYBE, I let her live." He paused. "But that depends on how cooperative you are."

"I want guarantees—"

"You’re in no position to negotiate." His voice hardened. "You have two options, brother. Comply and she might survive. Don’t comply and watch her explode. Those are your choices. Pick one."

Every instinct I had, every tactical lesson, every strategic principle, screamed at me to refuse. To find another way. To not walk into an obvious trap.

But Aria’s face in that video. The bomb. The terror in her eyes.

"How do we do this?" I asked.

"Four of my men will come get you. They’ll search you. Disarm you. Strip you of anything that could be used as a weapon or a tracking device. You try anything, anything at all, and I press this button." The sound of plastic clicking. "Understand?"

"I understand."

"Good. Stay where you are. They’re coming out now."

The line went dead.

Morrison grabbed my arm. "You can’t actually be considering, "

"I don’t have a choice."

"It’s a trap. He’s going to kill you both anyway."

"Probably." I checked my weapons one last time, for all the good it would do. "But if there’s even a chance, "

"Kael." Hayes stepped in front of me. "Let me go instead. Let me, "

"No." I met his eyes. "This is my responsibility. My brother. My fiancée. My fight."

I turned to Morrison. "Keep everyone in position. Wait for my signal."

"What signal?"

I leaned in close, whispering something only he could hear. His eyes widened, then he nodded slowly.

"Understood. We’ll be ready."

Because Andrew didn’t know everything.

Didn’t know about the additional teams positioned three blocks out. Didn’t know about the surveillance drones we’d deployed before the convoy arrived. Didn’t know about the contingency plans I’d put in place for exactly this scenario.

He thought he had all the cards.

He was wrong.

But I needed to get inside first. Needed to get closer to Aria. Needed to see the situation with my own eyes before I could act.

The warehouse door opened.

Four men emerged, heavily armed, moving with military precision. Ex-cartel or ex-military, probably both. They approached the perimeter, weapons raised but not aimed. Yet.

I stepped forward, hands visible, no sudden movements.

"Hands up," the lead one commanded in accented English. "Turn around."

I complied.

Rough hands patted me down, thorough and professional. They found my Glock, my backup piece at my ankle, the combat knife strapped to my thigh. All of it removed and tossed aside.

"Phone."

I handed it over.

They smashed it under a boot heel.

"Strip the vest."

I removed my tactical vest. They went through every pocket, every pouch, checking for weapons or electronics.

"Shirt."

They made me lift my shirt, checking for wires or hidden devices taped to my skin.

Paranoid. Professional.

Andrew had trained them well.

When they were satisfied, they zip-tied my hands in front of me, tight enough to restrict movement but not tight enough to cut off circulation. They needed me functional enough to sign papers.

"Move."

A gun pressed against my spine. I walked forward, surrounded by four armed men, toward the warehouse entrance.

This was it.

No weapons. No backup. No way out.

Just me walking into the lion’s den, gambling everything on a plan that might not work.

For Aria.

Always for Aria.

Inside, the warehouse was exactly what I’d expected: a fortress.

Armed men at every position. Sandbags. Defensive barriers. Clear sight lines and kill zones. Professional military setup, not amateur criminal operation.

Los Fantasmas wasn’t playing games.

I counted positions as they led me through. Twelve men on ground floor. Probably another dozen upstairs based on the noise. Rooftop team unknown but likely eight to ten.

Forty-plus hostiles.

Against me.

Great odds.

They brought me to a large room that had been converted into a command center. Table in the middle. Papers spread across it, legal documents, transfer forms, everything needed to hand over Roman Holdings.

But Andrew wasn’t there.

Instead, a man I recognized from Ewan’s files sat calmly in a chair: Dante Moretti. Expensive suit. Cold eyes. The Italian half of Los Fantasmas’ leadership.

"Mr. Roman." He gestured to the chair opposite him. "Please, sit."

"Where’s Andrew?" I remained standing. "Too scared to face me himself?"

"I’m right here, brother."

Andrew’s voice came from speakers mounted in the corners. A screen flickered to life, showing him, on the rooftop, standing behind Aria, gun to her head, detonator in hand.

"Just being cautious," Andrew continued through the speakers. "You understand. Can’t be too careful around family."

I stared at the screen, at Aria kneeling there with that bomb strapped to her chest, and felt something cold and murderous settle in my bones.

"What, you don’t trust me?" I kept my tone mocking. "Have to hide behind your new friends? Pathetic."

"Just sign the papers, Kael." Andrew’s irritation was evident even through the speakers.

"You were always weak, Andrew." I looked directly at the camera, letting him see the contempt in my eyes. "Even with all this..." I gestured at the armed men surrounding us, "...you’re still a coward. Can’t even face me man to man."

"Shut your mouth and SIGN." His voice rose. "Or would you like to see what happens to Aria?"

The screen switched to a closer feed. Live video from the rooftop. Aria’s terrified face filled the screen. The bomb clearly visible. Andrew’s thumb on the detonator button.

I swallowed my pride.

"Fine."

Dante pushed the papers toward me. "Once you sign, it’s done. Legally binding. No takesbacks, as they say."

I picked up the pen, my hands still zip-tied but functional enough to write.

"Smart choice, brother," Andrew said. "Sign each page. Don’t try anything cute."

Page after page. My signature appearing next to transfer clauses, asset lists, account numbers.

Every property Ewan had built over decades.

Every account.

Every asset.

Going to Andrew.

For her.

Worth it.

The last page. My signature. Date. Witnessed by Dante Moretti.

Done.

Andrew owned everything now.

"Excellent." Andrew’s satisfaction oozed through the speakers. "See? That wasn’t so hard. Now. About Aria..."

"Let her go." I stood, the zip-ties cutting into my wrists. "I did what you wanted. Let. Her. Go."

"Oh, I will." A pause. I could hear the smile in his voice. "Eventually."

My blood ran cold.

"But first," Andrew continued, "there’s one more thing."

No.

"You didn’t think I’d just let you BOTH walk away, did you?"

He laughed, genuinely amused.

"One of you is leaving here alive, brother. The other..."

The screen switched back to Aria. Her eyes met the camera, and I saw her realize what Andrew was saying.

"Well," Andrew said softly. "We’ll see."