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

"Ambush!" Maksim yelled, diving behind a wall. "Return fire!"

His men scattered as bullets pinged off armor and broke windows. The attackers moved like ghosts, dressed in black tactical gear and masks, striking like predators.

Hazard King. Zayden led the attack from the side, his rifle firing off shots. One shot took down a guard. A second shot dropped another.

"Reyes, breach now!" Zayden said over the comms.

Reyes, dark and scarred, charged the iron door with his crew. They set an explosive charge, and with a loud bang, the door blew apart. They rushed in, flashbangs going off, with shouts echoing down the stone halls.

Maksim’s defenses fell apart as the guards dropped quickly. He fired back wildly, hitting one of Reyes’s men in the shoulder.

"How?" Maksim shouted, pressing against the wall.

"How the hell did you find this place?" he yelled, running with four guards to the exit, Zayden right behind him.

Zayden’s distorted voice cut through the noise, cold and masked. "You’re not the only one with secrets, Karza. Lunel sends her regards."

Maksim’s eyes widened, his face twisting with anger. "That bitch! She’s with you, no doubt!"

A bullet zipped past his ear, Zayden intentionally missing. "Say that again. I dare you."

Maksim laughed, a dark, crazy sound. "You really think you can take William? He’s mine!"

He bolted, and his guards covered him as he made a run for the last SUV. Engines revved up, and tires spun on the gravel.

Zayden aimed and fired. The tire blew, making the SUV swerve and crash into a stone fountain.

Maksim rolled out, blood soaking through his shoulder from shrapnel, firing back as he went. One shot grazed Zayden’s arm, sending a sharp sting through him.

"Boss!" Leo’s voice came through, urgent.

"I’m fine," Zayden gritted his teeth. "Get William!"

Meanwhile, inside, Reyes’s team hit the basement. Guards were dropping in the tight stone halls, flashbangs blinding everyone while suppressed fire cleared their path.

They burst into the cage room, where fifty guards had been cut down to ten in the chaos. The rest fell quickly.

William was huddled, eyes wide. "Who... who are you?"

Reyes shot the lock clean off. "Friends. Let’s go."

Outside, Maksim limped towards another SUV, blood soaking his suit. "Retreat! Get me out!"

His remaining guards jumped into their vehicles, tires screeching as they raced off.

Zayden shot at them, hitting the back window and shattering the glass, but they disappeared into the darkness.

"Damn it," Zayden muttered, his arm aching. "He got away."

The comms crackled with Aylin’s urgent voice coming from the van. "Zayden? Vitals show—"

"Fine," he cut in, softening his tone for her. "We got him. William’s secure."

Relief washed over her voice. "Thank god. Head back here. I’ll take care of your wounds myself."

Zayden smirked beneath his mask, the playful tone returning. "Promise?"

Leo groaned over the comms. "Not the right moment, boss."

Zayden regrouped, noticing William being supported by two of Reyes’ men, appearing like a specter pulled from hell.

William met Zayden’s masked gaze; his voice was weak but filled with appreciation. "Who... are you? Why did you rescue me?"

Zayden’s distorted voice was cold and authoritative. "Hazard King. And you’re too important to waste away in Karza’s dungeon. We need your intellect to combat them."

William nodded, tired but grateful. "Thank you. Whoever you are."

Zayden gave him a firm pat on the shoulder. "Save your thanks. We’re not finished yet."

They climbed into the vans as the engines roared to life, speeding back towards the city.

As they drove away, Maksim’s voice reverberated in Zayden’s mind: How did you locate this place?

Selina’s chip? Aylin’s hacks? Or... something else?

Because Maksim was correct, it was too clean and easy.

Someone had provided a tip-off, someone from within.

Zayden glanced at his team, feeling a flicker of distrust beginning to form.

Who could it possibly be?

The vans disappeared into the night.

Meanwhile, in the shadows of the palace, a solitary figure observed, hooded and silent, appearing like a specter pulled from hell.

The ghost shooter?

Smiling.

Because the true game?

It was just starting.

Less than half an hour later, the vans came to a screeching stop in the underground garage of Zayden’s Empire Tower, tires smoking from their fast return.

Doors flew open, and guards jumped out, rifles still warm from the earlier raid. Zayden, still in his mask and with a bandage on his arm, jumped down first, scanning for any threats, even in his own fortress.

"Clear the way," he said sharply. "Get William inside. Now."

Reyes and his crew, dressed in dark gear and tough from years, flanked the back van. They carefully but quickly pulled William Arthur out. He looked like a ghost: super thin, with a messy beard, and wide but tired eyes. He winced with every move, his ribs hurting from Maksim’s earlier beating.

Aylin was already outside, a laptop slung over her shoulder, her golden-brown eyes wide with a mix of excitement and worry. She rushed to Zayden’s side. "You’re hurt."

He brushed her off with a playful grin that cut through the pain. "Just a scratch, hacker girl. Maksim can’t aim for anything."

She rolled her eyes, her fierce stare softening to concern. "Let me check it out."

"Later." He quickly kissed her forehead, possessively. "First, we need to get William settled."

Leo jumped out last, holding a tablet. "Selina’s chip is live. Maksim’s convoy is limping back to the city. He’s furious and thinks there’s an inside leak."

Zayden’s jaw tightened, anger sparking in his eyes. "Good. Let him worry himself to death."

They moved inside, the elevator whirring up to the secure floors. William leaned on Reyes, breathing hard. "Where... where am I?"

"Safe," Zayden said, his voice low and commanding. "My tower. No one gets in without my say-so."

William’s eyes met Zayden’s, filled with gratitude but also some nerves. "You... took a big risk. Maksim won’t forget this."

Zayden smirked darkly. "Neither will I."

The elevator dinged, and the doors opened to the basement ops wing: clean hallways, guards everywhere, and rooms branching off like a bunker.

"Get him to medical," Zayden ordered a guard. "And call Dr. Hale. Family doctor. Now."

The guard nodded and hurried down a side hall.

They got William settled into a makeshift med bay, where a clean cot and an IV stand were ready. He collapsed onto it, breathing out like he’d been holding his breath forever.

Aylin hovered nearby, compassion in her eyes. "William... I’m Lunel. I’m the one who exposed Alpha, your brother."

William’s tired eyes widened. "You... you’re the hacker? The one who wrecked their auction?"