The warehouse was full of dust.

Marco’s men kept their flashlights low, sweeping the floor. In the center of the room, hundreds of boxes were stacked high.

​"Check them," one of the guys ordered.

​

Another man stepped forward with a crowbar. With a loud creak, he pried the nearest box open.

Nick pulled out a jacket. Even in the dim light, the quality was terrible. The seams were crooked and the fabric felt like paper.

​"Look at this, Luce," Nick whispered, his voice shaking. "There are hundreds of these boxes."

​Lucille ran her fingers over the messy stitching and shook her head. "This is bad. If these hit the market, Aurora will have a massive scandal on their hands. It will ruin everything."

​Outside, the silence was starting to get to Lyvana. Her heart was racing and she was getting anxious. She got out of the car.

Ignoring Marco’s warning, she opened the door and stepped out.

​The driver was out of his seat in an instant. "Ma’am, you need to stay inside the vehicle. It’s for your safety."

​Lyvana leaned against the car, looking toward the dark warehouse. "I’m just getting some air."

The driver stepped closer, his eyes scanning the dark corners of the street.

"Please, ma’am. Marco was very specific. It’s not safe out here."

​"It’s too quiet," she whispered, her eyes fixed on the warehouse. "They’ve been in there too long."

​Just as she took a step toward the building, a muffled thud echoed from inside, followed by the heavy grinding sound of metal against metal.

​"What was that?" Lyvana gasped.

​The driver’s radio suddenly erupted with static and shouting. "The doors! They’re locked from the outside! It’s a trap!"

​"Ma’am, get back in the car now!" the driver yelled, reaching for her arm to pull her toward the safety of the SUV.

​Suddenly, a sharp crack rang through the air. A bullet grazed Lyvana’s arm, tearing through her sleeve and drawing blood before it slammed into the bulletproof glass of the car behind her.

​She screamed in pain, the shock forcing her to duck low behind the car door as the driver shielded her with his own body.

​"Sniper! Get down!" Marco shouted, appearing from the shadows in an instant. He hadn’t entered the warehouse with the others; instead, he had stayed outside with two men to survey the perimeter.

Hearing the shot, he sprinted toward Lyvana with his weapon drawn.

​"I told you to stay in the car!" he shouted, grabbing her by the shoulder to pull her into the gap between the SUVs. "Are you hit?"

​Lyvana gripped her arm, her fingers coming away red. "My arm," she choked out, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps.

​"It’s just a graze, thank God," he said to her.

He immediately began returning fire toward the roof of a nearby building, the muzzle flashes lighting up the dark street.

​"We need to get her out of here!" the driver yelled, scrambling to get back behind the wheel.

​

But as Marco tried to push Lyvana into the car, a bullet hit him in the back. He grunted in pain, his body jolting forward, but he refused to let go of her.

"Oh my God, Marco," she screamed.

He used his own weight to shield her from the incoming fire, forcing her down into the seat.

​"Get in! Go!" Marco roared, his voice thick with agony.

"No, we can’t leave you?" she said in tears.

"Don’t worry, reinforcement is on the way."

​Before the door slam shut, another bullet whistled through the air and struck Marco once more. He collapsed to his knees, but his hands stayed firmly on the car door, pushing it closed with the last of his strength to lock Lyvana inside the bulletproof shell.

​"Drive!" Marco commanded, hitting the side of the SUV with his fist.

​The driver didn’t hesitate. He floored the accelerator, the tires screeching and smoking against the pavement as the vehicle roared away from the warehouse.

​Just as the SUV sped into the distance, the sound of screeching brakes filled the air. Backup had arrived. Three more black SUVs and swerved into the industrial lot, their headlights cutting through the darkness.

​High on the roof of the opposite building, the sniper realized the situation had changed. Sensing the danger, he quickly disassembled his rifle and scrambled down the back way.

When he reached the floor, he run toward a hidden access point, a dark, jagged hole in the concrete floor that led to the city’s old tunnel system.

​He was halfway into the hole when a heavy boot slammed down on his hand.

​"Going somewhere?" a cold voice asked.

​​One of Marco’s elite scouts, who had been flanking the building, found him just as he was disappearing into the shadows. He dragged the sniper out by his collar and slammed him onto the hard concrete. Without a word, he twisted the man’s arm behind his back until a sickening snap echoed through the night. The sniper’s scream was cut short as the scout pinned his face into the dirt.

​Down on the street, the backup team secured the area. They found Marco on the ground, his face pale and covered in sweat, but he was alive.

....

Pain.

​A sharp ache pulsed through Lyvana’s arm as she slowly woke up. Her head felt heavy and sore.

Suddenly Marco came to mind. Was he safe as well? If something had happened to him because of her...

Guilt twisted painfully in her chest.

She didn’t know how she could ever forgive herself.

​"Mar... co," she whispered, struggling to speak.

​"He is alright. Don’t worry about him," a voice said.

​Lyvana sighed in relief. She turned her head and saw Julian standing by the window. He was frowning deeply.

She knew he was angry because she had put herself in danger. She braced herself for the lecture she knew was coming. He was staying quiet for now, but only because she was still hurt.