The ops room was buzzing with a kind of organized chaos. Aylin’s fingers flew over the keyboard, code lighting up three screens. "I’m in their outer network. The firewalls are better, thanks to William, but they’re still not enough."

She cracked the second layer in forty-seven seconds. Leo let out a low whistle from the weapons rack.

"Damn, girl. In front of you, my whole crew looks slow."

Aylin’s teasing toned down, replaced by a razor-bright focus. "Your crew needs some coffee and way better firewalls."

Zayden stood behind her, his hands bracing the back of her chair, pride and something hotter in his steel-blue gaze. He leaned in, his voice low and flirty just for her. "Keep this up, hacker girl," he murmured, "I’ll reward you later. Private suite. No clothes. No interruptions."

Aylin’s cheeks went red, but she didn’t miss a beat. "Focus, mafia king. Or I’ll make your ringtone ’Baby Shark’ on loop."

Leo, loading a fresh magazine, snorted so hard he almost dropped his rifle. "You said the same to me, too, but seriously, do it. I want to see his face when that goes off during a deal."

Zayden shot him a mock glare. "One more word, Leo, and you’re on duty for a month."

Leo grinned, totally unbothered. "Definitely worth it."

Aylin laughed brightly, cutting through the tension like sunshine. "You two..."

Leo added, "Oh, by the way, that reminds me of Jax and Jane. Where are they?"

Zayden’s phone buzzed sharply. He glanced at the screen. "Speak of the devils."

He answered, his tone clipped. "Jax. Jane. What’s up?"

Jax’s voice crackled through, with humidity thick in the background. "Wheels up in ten. ETA at the tower: 20 minutes. Do you still want Overwatch?"

Zayden’s gaze flicked to Aylin, softening for a moment. "Change of plans. Get here. Head straight to the ops room. You’re on guard duty for Aylin now. Don’t take your eyes off her. Not for a second."

Jane’s voice chimed in, cool and professional. "Got it. She won’t be alone."

Aylin rolled her eyes, giving Zayden a playful look. "Seriously? Bodyguards?"

Zayden cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing her lip. "Definitely. You’re mine. I protect what’s mine. And you’re heading into a war zone in just a few moments."

Aylin straightened in her chair. "Alright, but if they mess with my vibe, I’m hacking their earpieces to blast polka music."

Leo nearly spit out his drink. "Polka? That’s just mean! You’re way too obsessed with hacking phones and playing goofy tunes on them."

Aylin laughed. "It’s because you guys only freak out over silly music, not much else."

Zayden gave her a quick, possessive kiss on the forehead. "That’s my girl." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

The clock kept ticking.

Aylin’s voice turned serious again. "Maksim’s convoy is on the move. Three armored SUVs with a heavy escort. Destination confirmed: the old abandoned palace upstate. It’s a perfect black site for a prisoner like William."

Zayden tightened his grip on her chair, anger flashing in his eyes. "When will they arrive?"

"Thirty minutes," Aylin replied, pulling up thermal drone feeds. "We can beat them there if we head out now."

Leo put on his vest. "The team’s ready to roll. Reyes and his guys are already on the way, ETA 35 to 40 minutes. You taking charge of the extraction, Z?"

Zayden pulled on his black tactical mask, his eyes narrowing coldly. Hazard King: faceless and lethal. "Aylin, you’re on a digital watch from the lead van. Jam their comms, loop the cameras, blind the drones. Jax and Jane will stick with you. Never go solo. Got it?"

Aylin stood up, fierce and ready. "Got it. But Zayden..." She stood on her tiptoes and kissed the edge of his mask. "Make sure you come back."

He pulled her close, his voice muffled but intense. "Always, for you."

Leo groaned with a tease. "Ugh. Can we save the romance novel for after we rescue the brainiac?"

Aylin winked at him. "Jealous, Leo? Is Selina not texting back fast enough?"

Leo’s ears turned red. "Shut up."

Zayden chuckled softly. "Let’s move."

The vans roared out of the underground garage, city lights turning into streaks. They drove for forty minutes north along winding country roads through forgotten small towns. Aylin worked from the back of the lead van, her laptop glowing as her fingers flew over the keyboard.

"Comms are jammed," she said over the earpieces, her voice steady. "The drones are blind and flying deaf."

Leo did a fist pump from the passenger seat. "You’re a wizard!"

Zayden’s voice was steady, but carried a dangerous vibe. "Focus. Target in five."

The old, rundown palace stood in front of them, its cracked stone towers and walls covered in ivy, making a spooky outline in the moonlight. Gargoyles glared down from the ledges. There were no lights and no movement. But underground? That’s where the real danger was.

Maksim’s convoy pulled in first, tires crunching on the gravel. Three SUVs let out armed guys—fifteen of them—and they formed a circle around Maksim as he got out of the middle vehicle. He was tall, marked with scars, and his suit was sharp, even with a bit of dirt on it.

"Secure the entrance," Maksim shouted, his accent strong. "No slip-ups. The genius stays right here."

His guards nodded and moved like shadows toward the hidden basement door: a rusty iron door under the east wing.

Down inside the palace, William Arthur was slumped in his cage, heavy chains holding his broken body down.

Outside, Aylin, Zayden, and Leo were listening closely to everything Maksim said, waiting for their moment.

About thirty minutes later, Maksim ordered his guards to open his cage.

They pulled him up, unlocking the cage for the first time in years.

Just as Maksim turned to leave, alarms started blaring overhead. Gunshots rang out—distant at first, then getting closer.

Hope bubbled up inside him. They’re here. Whoever they are.

Above ground, Maksim stopped dead in his tracks. "What the—?"

Gunfire erupted, precise shots coming from the treeline. Two guards fell, shot in the head.

The palace shook from explosions as guards scattered, rifles ready.

A guard rushed in. "Boss! Breach! HK’s men! They’re here!"

Maksim’s face twisted in anger. "No way!"

The lights flickered and went out, plunging them into darkness.