"You didn’t say anything about that."

"Because we had a job to finish." Zayden pressed his hand to the wound. "It’s just a graze. I’ve dealt with worse."

Kade grabbed a first aid kit. "This needs stitches."

"Later."

"Now."

"Kade—"

"I’m not letting you bleed out before we finish this," Kade insisted. "Boss."

Zayden sighed. "Fine. Just make it quick."

Kade moved fast, using antiseptic, gauze, and a pressure bandage. The fix was temporary but worked.

"You really need a doctor," Kade pressed.

"After we take out Alpha."

"You’re impossible."

"That’s why you’re working for me."

Despite everything, Kade grinned. "True."

Zayden’s phone buzzed again, this time with a message from Azalea.

"Maksim just got to the auction hall with Victor. Everything’s on track."

Zayden texts her, "So, how’s Sarah doing?"

Her reply came instantly. "She’s heading to the mansion and should be there in about twenty minutes."

He typed back quickly. "What about Alpha?"

Azalea replied back, "Alpha’s in the auction hall, getting everything set up. No one has a clue what’s about to happen."

Zayden grinned, even with the pain in his side.

Everything was coming together.

"Let’s go," he told Kade. "We’ve got an auction to crash."

*****

Sarah moved through the house like she owned it.

Her daughter, Ella, was asleep in her room, blissfully unaware.

Sarah had packed two bags with the essentials: clothes, important papers, and cash.

Everything else could be replaced.

Except for her daughter.

She checked her watch. It was 10:53 PM.

The guards were probably starting to get tired; the sedative she mixed into their juice would be kicking in soon.

She had planned it perfectly.

Sarah headed to the kitchen. The maid was gone, sent home early on her orders.

There were twenty guards in total—fourteen at the front and around the property, and six right by her side.

But only the fourteen around the property had drunk the laced juice.

The six assigned to her had opted out, sticking strictly to protocol.

That meant she needed them to stay sharp and loyal.

Four of them were Zayden’s guys, placed there months back.

Sarah walked up to the security room and knocked.

The door swung open, and there was Daniel, the head of her security team.

"Ma’am?" he asked.

"I need to get out of here," Sarah said quietly. "Right now. With Ella."

"Got it. The car?" Daniel replied without missing a beat.

"Back gate. Engine’s running," she said.

"I’ll grab Ella. You get the bags," he instructed.

Sarah nodded.

They moved fast.

Sarah picked up both bags while Daniel went to Ella’s room.

The other three guards, who worked for Zayden, grouped up around them.

The two guards who weren’t Zayden’s guys looked confused.

"Ma’am, where are we headed?" one of them asked.

"Out," Sarah answered. "You can come with us or stay here. It’s your call."

They shared a glance before saying, "We’ll come with you."

That was good.

Daniel came back shortly, carrying a sleeping Ella. She stirred but didn’t wake.

"Back door," Sarah whispered.

They slipped out of the mansion quietly.

Outside, the guards at the main gate were slumped over, fast asleep. The sedative worked.

Sarah grimaced slightly as they reached the back door, where a black SUV was ready with the engine running.

Inside was a driver, one of Zayden’s crew.

Daniel carefully placed Ella in the back seat, and Sarah climbed in next to her.

The six guards split up, with three in the SUV and three in another vehicle following closely behind.

"Go," Sarah said.

The driver took off smoothly.

No headlights behind them yet.

They slipped through the back gate and onto the quiet service road.

Two hundred meters.

Three hundred.

Sarah started to feel a bit better.

They were going to get away with it.

*****

Inside the mansion, one guard started to wake up.

His name was Anton. He used to be in the military and had a strong stomach, plus he could handle a lot of sedatives.

The sedative hadn’t knocked him out.

He blinked and looked around.

All his buddies were out cold—every single one of them.

He got up, grabbed his weapon, and checked the security monitors.

Everything looked empty.

Mrs. Arthur was gone.

And she had taken the girl.

Anton grabbed his radio. "Command, this is Anton. Mrs. Arthur is escaping. Repeat—"

A gun was pressed to the back of his head.

"Don’t move," a voice ordered.

Anton froze.

"Drop the radio."

He let it fall.

"Turn around. Slowly."

He turned to see who it was.

One of Sarah’s guards stood there. Daniel’s second-in-command. His name was Lev.

"You really should’ve drunk the juice," Lev said.

Anton lunged at him.

Lev shot him—once, right in the forehead.

Anton dropped to the ground.

Lev lowered his gun and spoke into his earpiece. "Threat neutralized. Clear to move ahead."

In the SUV, Sarah heard the gunshot over Daniel’s comm.

She shut her eyes for a second.

Another life gone. Another cost.

But Ella was safe.

That was what really mattered.

Daniel’s voice came through, "Ma’am, we’re all clear. Lev took care of it."

Sarah nodded. "Thanks."

"Lev’s heading back to the second vehicle now. We’re sticking to the plan."

The SUV picked up speed.

With headlights on, it was just another car cruising down the road.

Sarah glanced over at her daughter, who was still asleep and completely innocent.

"We’re going somewhere safe," Sarah whispered. "I promise."

Ella stirred a bit. "Mommy?"

"Shh. Just go back to sleep, sweetie."

"Where’s Daddy?"

Sarah’s heart ached. "He’s busy working. He’ll see you soon."

It was a lie.

But a necessary one.

Because Michael Arthur, aka Alpha Dark, would never be able to see his "daughter" again.

And when Ella was older, Sarah would tell her the truth.

That her real dad was William Arthur.

That he was still alive.

That he had been trying to get back to them.

But for now, Ella was sleeping.

And Sarah was driving toward safety.

*****

Twenty minutes later, they rolled up to the Virelli mansion.

The gates opened on their own, showing the Zayden security team waiting for them.

Sarah hopped out, holding Ella in her arms.

Ayla came out to say hello.

"Welcome," Ayla said with a smile. "You’re safe here. Zayden told me you were coming."

Sarah felt tears starting to form. "Thanks so much."

"Let’s get Ella settled in bed. You must be wiped out."

Sarah followed her inside.

Meanwhile, Daniel and the guards made sure everything was secure.

Another piece of the plan was in the bag.

*****

Aylin was seated in front of six screens.

Next to her, Azalea and Liam were busy at their own stations.

From the outside, the van looked like a fancy limousine with tinted windows and a sleek paint job.

Inside, though, it was a mobile command center.

The screens showed every angle of the auction hall, including outside views, the hallways, the main auction room, and Alpha Dark’s office.

Aylin watched as Alpha paced back and forth in his office, phone against his ear.

Even though she couldn’t hear him—no audio yet—his tense movements spoke volumes.

Nice.

He realized something was off; he just didn’t know what.

Azalea’s voice pulled Aylin’s focus back. "Maksim just showed up at the east entrance."

Aylin quickly switched cameras.

Maksim Karza stomped into the building, with Victor right behind him. He looked both furious and scared.

Liam said, "He’s going straight to Alpha."

"Just like Zayden guessed," Azalea replied.

Aylin typed quickly. "I’m turning on the audio now. Let’s hear what they’re saying."

Her fingers flew over the keyboard while the code scrolled on the screen.

Then, with a click, the audio came on.

On the screen, Alpha Dark was pacing in his office. Maksim Karza had just barged in, with Victor trailing behind.

Alexander Kane stood by the window, quiet and watchful.

Alpha’s voice came through the speakers, sounding frustrated. "This is ridiculous! You were supposed to have it under control!"

Maksim’s voice was cold and cutting. "Don’t lecture me, Michael. Hazard King hit fifteen spots at once. My whole network is shot."

"Then you should’ve had better security," Alpha snapped back.

"ENOUGH!" Maksim slammed his hand on the desk, silencing the room.

Maksim straightened up and said, "I’m not your subordinate, Michael. We’re partners—equal partners. Don’t forget that."

Alpha gritted his teeth but nodded. "You’re right. I’m sorry."

Alexander watched the whole exchange closely. It was clear that Maksim was the one in charge.

Alpha might be dangerous, but Maksim was the one with real power.

"Hazard King is coming for us," Maksim warned. "Both of us. If he can take out my operations so easily, what makes you think yours are safe?"

Alpha looked a bit rattled. "The auction—"