The operatives stood nearby, quiet and respectful. Some of them were tearing up. They all fought alongside Zayden, trusted him, and owed him their lives.

Finally, Charles spoke softly. "We can’t do anything right now. We wait."

Liam pulled back and wiped his eyes. He nodded, realizing his dad was right. Waiting was all they had.

Charles looked at the operatives. "Alright, everyone inside. Get cleaned up, get checked out if you need to, and rest. You’ve earned it."

They filed into the elevator one by one, exhausted warriors heading home. Liam and Charles followed.

The elevator went up and reached the main floor.

*****

The sun came up over the city, slow and steady.

Light poured onto the streets, still slick from last night’s rain and stained with the chaos from the night before.

The auction hall was quiet now, no more gunshots, no more screams. Just silence and the aftermath of what went down.

FBI agents flooded the place, lots of them, in black jackets with yellow letters, moving with a mission. They were marking evidence, snapping photos, and picking up shell casings.

Body bags were lined up outside, holding guards who had died protecting them and guests who lost their lives trying to dodge consequences.

And then there was Alpha Dark—Michael Arthur. He had a bunch of bullet wounds and was already dead before he hit the ground. His body was in a bag, getting loaded into the coroner’s van.

Nearby, Maksim Karza was in the back of a police car, handcuffed, hurt, and defeated.

Two agents were keeping watch to make sure he didn’t pull anything. His hand was shattered, his leg was bandaged up, and his shoulder was bleeding through a makeshift dressing.

He stared straight ahead, quiet, knowing it was all over.

All around him, other guests were being processed. Handcuffed and lined up, they were recognized: senators, governors, CEOs, lawyers, judges, all caught on camera, all bidding on kids, and all facing jail time.

The FBI had it all: every document, each transaction, and all the names.

It was all because of an anonymous broadcast that had taken over the auction feed.

They didn’t know about Hazard King, Lunel, or the crew that pulled it all together.

News vans were parked outside, cameras pointed at the building, the body bags, and the guests who got arrested.

Reporters were frantically talking into their mics, broadcasting live for everyone to see.

*****

Sarah was in the lounge of the Virelli mansion, with the TV on low.

Her daughter was upstairs, safe and sound, oblivious to the chaos outside.

Ella was still sleeping, looking peaceful and innocent.

Sarah wanted to keep it that way for as long as she could.

On the screen, the news kept running, a CNN broadcast, with a breaking news banner scrolling at the bottom.

The anchor spoke with urgency, containing excitement.

"—an unbelievable raid on what officials are calling the biggest human trafficking operation ever. The man in charge, Michael Arthur, who ran S&E Holdings and was a well-known philanthropist, was found dead at the scene—"

The image switched, showing a body covered with a white sheet.

But you could see a golden mask next to it.

Sarah stared, shocked.

That was him.

The man she’d been forced to marry.

The man who had taken years of her life.

The one who had kidnapped William and raised Ella like she was his own child.

He was dead.

The anchor went on, "Michael Arthur, who people knew as a generous donor and successful businessman, was supposedly the mastermind behind an international trafficking ring that exploited hundreds of young women and girls. Evidence shared during last night’s operation shows decades of crimes, including murder, money laundering, and political corruption—"

Sarah felt nothing. No relief. No grief. Just... emptiness.

He was finally gone.

But the damage he had done...

That would stick around forever.

The headline at the bottom of the screen changed.

S&E HOLDINGS CEO DEAD - PHILANTHROPIST WITH MAFIA TIES

Sarah couldn’t help but laugh a little.

"Philanthropist."

They had no clue.

The footage moved to show the auction hall, all blocked off with police tape and FBI agents moving around.

Then it cut back to the body.

Michael Arthur.

Gone.

Sarah took a big breath, got up, and headed to the window.

The sun was coming up over the mansion grounds.

It looked calm.

A new day.

A fresh start.

For her, for Ella, and for everyone he’d messed with.

She closed her eyes, and for the first time in ten years, Sarah felt free

*****

Selina sat quietly in one of the small, simple, and clean rooms inside the tower.

It was way better than the cell she thought she’d end up in. Better than what she felt she deserved.

The TV was on, looping the same news and the same footage over and over.

Michael Arthur was dead. Maksim Karza had been arrested.

The whole empire was done for.

Selina watched it all without feeling a thing. She had worked for those men for years. She’d done some awful stuff in their name. She had hurt a lot of people and ruined lives.

And now they were both out of the picture.

The door to her room was unlocked. She could easily walk out if she wanted to.

Hazard King—Zayden had made that crystal clear.

"You helped us," he told her. "You gave us info. You put yourself in danger. So you’re free. But if you run, if you disappear, or if you ever hurt anyone again, I will find you. And I will finish what I started."

Selina just nodded.

She chose to stick around.

Where would she go?

Who would even take her in?

She was no better than them.

The only difference was that she knew it. And she genuinely wanted to change.

On the screen, the news anchor started talking about the victims.

Fifteen girls had already been saved from the auction. Thirty-two from another spot. They were all safe now and getting help.

Selina thought about the girls she had helped capture. The girls she had hurt.

She couldn’t make up for it. But maybe she could try.

Then the news changed.

A new headline popped up.

Selina sat up a little straighter.

*****

BREAKING NEWS

Every news channel is buzzing about it.

CNN, Fox, MSNBC, BBC.

They’re all on the same story.

The anchor spoke with urgency. "We have breaking news about last night’s events. Zayden Cole Virelli, the CEO of Iron Vale Group and Virelli Groups and Industries, got shot and is now in critical condition at the hospital—"

The screen flashed a smart photo of Zayden, looking sharp in a suit with a slight smile.

This was the face people knew. Not the masked hero. Not Hazard King.

The anchor kept going, "Sources say Mr. Virelli was shot during a bust on a trafficking operation. Sources suggest Michael Arthur may have been involved in the shooting, but officials haven’t made a statement yet—"

The footage switched to an ambulance at Mercy General. Paramedics were rushing inside while police kept the area secure.

"Mr. Virelli, who’s thirty-two, is the oldest son of business mogul Enzo Cole Virelli. He’s known for his philanthropic efforts and business savvy. He’s in surgery right now, and his condition is critical. We’ll keep you posted with updates as we get them—"

In the mansion lounge, Sarah gasped, covering her mouth. Zayden. Shot. In serious condition.

The man who had saved her. Who had protected her daughter, Ella. Who had given her a chance at freedom? He might be dying.

In the tower, Selina stood frozen, staring at the screen. Zayden had given her a second chance at life.

And now... he might not make it.

All over the city, people were glued to the news. Business partners, employees, and friends were in shock. But none were more affected than his family, who still didn’t know.

*****

Somewhere else in the Virelli house, Enzo Cole Virelli woke up.

Sunlight was pouring in through the bedroom windows. He blinked, stretched a bit, and reached out.

Isabella was already up; her side of the bed was empty. She was probably downstairs, sipping coffee and figuring out her day.

Enzo sat up and ran a hand through his hair.

He swung his legs off the bed and stood up.

Then....

Knock, knock.

There was a knock at his bedroom door, and at the same time, his phone began to ring.

Enzo glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was early, way too early for calls or visitors.

He grabbed his phone and checked the screen. It was Ryan, an old friend and business partner.

"Come in," Enzo called toward the door.

He answered the phone. "Ryan, it’s early. What—"

"Did you see the news?" Ryan’s voice sounded urgent and tense.

No small talk, he went right to it.

Enzo frowned. "No, I was sleeping. Just woke up. Who even watches the news this early in the morning?"

"Your son is in the hospital."

Enzo’s heart skipped a beat.