Zayden laid out the plan for exactly four minutes, explaining step by step who would do what, when, and how.

When he finished, there was a long pause.

Then Leo whistled softly. "That’s either brilliant or completely crazy."

"Both," Reyes replied.

"I like it," Azalea said.

"It could work," Charles agreed.

Sarah nodded. "I can get the intel you need on Alpha’s movements."

William looked worn out but determined. "I’ll help in any way I can."

"You should take a break," Aylin said gently.

"I’ll rest when Alpha is gone," William shot back.

Liam cleared his throat. "So we’re really doing this. We’re going after Alexander Kane."

"We’re going after Alpha Dark," Zayden corrected. "Alexander’s just a means to an end."

"And what if he doesn’t cooperate?" Reyes asked.

Zayden’s face got serious. "Then we go with plan B."

"And what’s plan B?" Leo asked.

"You don’t want to know," Zayden said flatly.

Plan B was not something he wanted to use.

No one pushed gim for more info.

Azalea turned to her brother. "When do we start?"

"Tomorrow," Zayden said. "Sarah, I need that intel by morning. Leo, I need someone to keep an eye on Alexander’s hospital room. Reyes, team up with Zayn, make sure Emma’s got protection, even if she doesn’t know it."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Azalea," Zayden continued, "work with Aylin. Go through all the evidence we have on Alexander and make sure it’s solid."

"Got it," Azalea confirmed.

"Liam, Charles, I need you two ready to move at a moment’s notice. When we go after Alexander, it’ll be quick."

"Understood," Liam said, and Charles nodded.

"William," Zayden added softly, "just focus on getting better. We need you back at full strength."

William gave a slight smile. "I’m on it."

Zayden looked at everyone on the screen. "This is it. This is when we start taking them down: Alpha, Maksim, Alexander, all of them. We’ve been on the back foot for too long. Now we go on the attack."

"About time," Leo mumbled.

"Any questions?" Zayden asked.

Silence followed.

"Alright. Everyone, get some sleep. Tomorrow we kick things off."

One by one, the video feeds cut out until only Zayden and Aylin were left on the screen.

Zayden closed the laptop.

Aylin looked at him, a hint of worry in her eyes. "You didn’t share the whole plan with them."

"Nope," he said.

"Why not?"

Zayden turned to her. "The full plan is risky. If it blows up in our faces, I don’t want anyone else to take the heat for it."

If it failed, everything would burn.

Aylin studied his face closely. "What are you plotting?"

"Something I should’ve done ages ago," Zayden said quietly, leaving it at that.

Not wanting to press him, Aylin took his hand.

"Whatever you’re planning," she said softly, "I’m in. Always."

Zayden squeezed her hand back. "I know."

They sat in the dark, both aware that tomorrow was a game-changer. They knew what they were about to do could either save them all or wreck everything. There would be no second chances.

Outside, the city was fast asleep, clueless that a storm was brewing. It didn’t realize that the biggest players were finally making their move. None of them knew that tomorrow would bring chaos.

Zayden pulled Aylin closer, and for a little while longer, they let themselves enjoy the calm before everything changed. They didn’t acknowledge that truth can never really be hidden or buried.

*****

The hospital room was pretty quiet, except for the steady beep of the heart monitor.

Emma sat in the chair right next to Alexander’s bed, holding his hand tightly. She hadn’t let go since the doctors finally let her see him.

Alexander was awake now. He had been for about ten minutes. He looked better. His breathing was steady, and his eyes were clear.

But Emma was still really mad.

"Two days," she said, her voice tight with barely controlled emotions. "You were gone for two days, Dad. Just a note. Not a single phone call. Not even a text except for that one message saying you were busy."

Alexander looked guilty. "I know. I’m sorry."

"Sorry?" Emma’s voice went up a bit. "I was scared! I had no idea where you were or what you were doing, or if you were okay. And then you come home and just—you collapsed! Do you even realize what that was like for me?"

"Emma—"

"I thought you were dying!" Emma’s eyes filled with tears again. "I thought I was going to lose you, and I didn’t even know why you left in the first place!"

Alexander squeezed her hand gently. "I’m not going anywhere. I promise."

"You better not," Emma said fiercely. "Because you’re all I have. Do you get that? You’re the only family I’ve got. No siblings. No mom. Just you, Dad. Just you."

Alexander’s throat tightened. "I know, sweetheart."

"Then why did you leave like that?"

"Work," Alexander said, which wasn’t completely a lie. "Something urgent came up. I had to handle it myself."

"For two whole days? Without any sleep?"

"Yeah."

Emma shook her head. "That’s not a good excuse. You could’ve called. You could’ve checked in. You could’ve—" Her voice broke. "You could’ve at least let me know you were alive."

"You’re right," Alexander said softly. "I should’ve. I’m sorry, Emma. Really."

Emma wiped her eyes in frustration. "You’re lucky I didn’t just take you out myself when you woke up."

That made Alexander smile a little. "I have no doubt you would have."

From near the door, Zayn watched the whole thing with a complicated feeling in his chest.

This wasn’t what he expected.

He thought Alexander would be cold and distant, like the calculating killer Zayden had described.

Instead, he saw a dad who really loved his daughter, who looked sincerely guilty for scaring her, and who was holding her hand like it was the most important thing ever.

It made everything a lot more complicated.

Alexander’s eyes drifted past Emma to where Zayn was hanging out. "And you, Zayn Virelli. Thanks for bringing her here and sticking around."

Zayn stood up a bit straighter. "No problem."

"She called you," Alexander pointed out. "When I passed out. She called you first."

Emma’s cheeks got a little rosy.

Zayn met Alexander’s gaze without flinching. "Yeah, she did."

Alexander glanced between them, a small, knowing grin creeping onto his face. "Interesting."

"Dad," Emma warned.

"What?" Alexander asked, acting innocent.