The night was chilly as Alpha Dark’s crew arrived a few blocks away from Hazard King’s tower.

A group of thirty heavily armed mercenaries spilled out of dark vans like shadows fading into the night.

In the middle of it all stood Alpha, his face modified and hidden behind a tactical mask.

His voice cut through the comms, sharp, calm, and unmistakable. "Team One, head to the east entrance. Create chaos. Team Two, make your way to the second floor; kill the lights and cut communications. Team Three, stick with me, we’re going after William."

Maksim Karza stepped up beside him, cracking his neck as a sly grin spread across his face. "Let’s keep it quick. In and out. No screw-ups."

"No screw-ups," Alpha echoed.

They moved out.

*****

The Hidden Basement, below Zayden’s office.

Deep down in a secret room known to only a few, Aylin was hunched over her laptop, fingers flying across the keyboard.

Screens surrounded her, flashing data, encrypted files, and background checks zooming by so fast it was dizzying.

Leo paced behind her with a tablet in hand, his usual joking demeanor replaced by serious focus. "Any luck yet?"

"Hang on a sec," Aylin muttered, her golden-brown eyes narrowing as she broke through another firewall.

"Liam’s information is buried so deep it’s as if he doesn’t want anyone to find him," Aylin said.

"Or someone is trying to keep him hidden," Leo replied with a grim look.

Jax and Jane stood at the entrance, keeping a sharp eye out like sentinels, even though they were in the most secure spot in the tower.

Suddenly, Aylin’s screen flickered, and she scored a breakthrough.

"Got something," she whispered. "Military records from Denmark. But they’re mostly redacted."

Leo leaned in closer. "Can you bypass the censorship?"

"Can I?" Aylin smirked, looking ready for action. "Just watch me."

Her fingers danced over the keys as code flowed down the screen like a digital waterfall.

Then Leo’s earpiece crackled to life. "Leo, it’s kicking off. They’re hitting the east entrance now."

Leo tapped his earpiece. "Got it. Keep me updated."

He turned to Aylin. "It’s go time upstairs. Are you good down here?"

"I’m good. Go," Aylin said, keeping her eyes glued to her screen. "I’ll figure out who Liam really is. You just make sure Zayden stays alive."

Leo hesitated for a moment, then nodded to Jax and Jane. "She doesn’t move from this room. If anything happens—"

"We get it," Jax said seriously. "She’s our priority."

Leo took the hidden elevator up to the command center, leaving Aylin deep in the digital zone, searching for answers.

*****

In the Tower, Operations Center.

Zayden stood in front of a wall of screens, taking in the live feeds as Alpha’s guys moved in closer. His steel-blue eyes were sharp and calculated, and he already had his tactical mask on.

Reyes showed up beside him, quiet as a shadow, with his rifle slung over his back. "My crew is ready. Backup is good to go. Just say the word."

"Stay put," Zayden said softly. "Let them think they’re on top first."

On the screen, Alpha’s Team One blew open the east entrance with a controlled explosion, loud enough to seem real, but not enough to wake up the whole city.

Zayden’s guards "reacted," firing shots that missed on purpose while yelling orders in a staged panic.

Perfect.

Leo charged into the ops center, a little out of breath. "They’re through the east entrance. Team Two is making their way to the second floor."

Zayden’s jaw tightened. "What about William?"

"He’s in the safe room on the third sub-level. They won’t find him."

"Good." Zayden turned to the tactical display. "Reyes, keep the comms open. The moment they catch on that it’s a trap, they’ll run. I want to cover the exits but not block them."

"Let them escape," Zayden said calmly. "But make them pay for it."

Reyes nodded once. "Got it."

Outside, Maksim’s earpiece buzzed. "East entrance is secure, boss. Minimal resistance. Heading to the second floor."

Maksim laughed, darkly satisfied. "Way too easy. HK’s getting lazy."

Alpha’s voice cut in, sharp and commanding. "Don’t get cocky. Stay on task."

They pushed forward, boots echoing on the marble floors, rifles scanning corners.

Team Two hit the security hub on the second floor just like they planned. Guards went down, and the lights shut off across two entire floors.

"Communications are down!" one of Maksim’s men shouted victoriously.

Maksim grinned beneath his mask. "All clear. Alpha, sweep the floors. We need William. Now."

Alpha nodded and gestured for Team Three to move in. They glided through the dark hallways like shadows, clearing room after room with precision.

Third floor. West Wing.

This was the spot where they thought William was being held.

Alpha kicked the door open, rifle raised.

The room was empty, just a bed, a chair, and a lamp that was still warm.

"What the hell?" Alpha muttered, spinning around. "He should’ve been here!"

Maksim’s voice buzzed over the comms, clearly frustrated. "Check again!"

"There’s nothing here!" Alpha shot back. "The intel was wrong. He’s not here! We got bad info. He’s supposed to be in the basement, but he’s not. He’s on another floor!"

Then, all of a sudden, the lights snapped back on.

Every single one.

Blinding. Out of nowhere. Exposing them like bugs under a magnifying glass.

Alpha’s stomach dropped.

"It’s a setup," he whispered.

From every shadow, corner, and doorway, Zayden’s guys appeared, fifty of them, rifles raised, faces hidden behind masks.

Striding down the hallway like he owned the place was Hazard King himself.

Zayden’s distorted voice, cold and mocking, echoed through the hall. "Looking for someone?"

In the operations center, Reyes spoke into his comms, his voice calm but deadly. "All units, trap them. Cover all exits. Nobody leaves without our go-ahead."

"Copy that," came the responses from his scattered teams.

Maksim cursed loudly over the comms. "RETREAT! FALL BACK!"

Alpha’s crew opened fire, desperation kicking in instead of their earlier confidence.

Zayden’s guards returned fire with brutal efficiency, not to kill, but to corner them, to trap them, and to make them regret every step they had taken.