The sun had barely risen when Kael cracked open the encrypted files from the bunker. They sat around the dimly lit room, the harsh light of the laptop casting shadows across their faces. Kael’s fingers flew over the keys, deciphering the coded messages, unlocking a series of detailed communications.James stood behind him, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the screen.“This is it,” Kael muttered, scrolling through the list. “A network of collaborators—dozens of people working under Zhao. Some familiar names, others not so much. But here…” He paused, pointing to a name on the screen.James’s blood ran cold. His jaw tightened as he leaned forward. “No. It can’t be.”Kael looked at him, brow furrowed. “What? Who is it?”James’s fists clenched. "Benjamin Hayes."Kael’s eyes widened. “Benjamin Hayes.The same one who—”“Yeah,” James cut him off, voice low, each word heavy with the weight of betrayal. “The one who sold me out years ago. I never thought I’d see his name again, let alone linked t

Inside the sleek, high-ceilinged ballroom, laughter and the clink of champagne glasses filled the air.The opulence of the gala contrasted sharply with the fire burning inside James.He and Kael stood among the guests, dressed sharply in tuxedos, blending effortlessly with the crowd of Zhao’s top allies and influential business partners.Winter’s intelligence had led them here, and James was ready to use it to his advantage.Kael leaned closer, his voice barely audible.“This is it. Benjamin’s hosting the event, but we can’t make our move too early. We need to get close.”James’s gaze swept over the room, scanning the crowd for any signs of Benjamin.He could feel his pulse quicken, the tension in his chest building.“Patience,” he muttered, his voice low.“He’ll slip up. He always does.”The two of them positioned themselves near a group of businessmen laughing too loudly, all too eager to make their way into Benjamin’s good graces.James barely listened to their chatter, his eyes fo

The gala erupted into chaos the moment Benjamin barked out his order. “Guards! Seize them!”James exchanged a knowing glance with Kael, their silent understanding forged through years of combat. As the first wave of guards approached, Kael struck, his movements swift and efficient. James followed, dismantling the opposition with cold precision."Stand down!" one of the guards shouted, his voice trembling as he aimed his weapon.James strode forward, his movements calculated. “You’re in my way,” he said, his tone sharp as a blade.The guard hesitated, his resolve faltering, and James disarmed him in a blur of motion. Behind him, Kael slammed another guard into the marble floor, the echo cutting through the noise of panicked guests.“James, second floor!” Kael shouted, pointing toward a corridor where Benjamin had vanished.“I’ll handle it. Cover the exits,” James commanded, already moving.Kael nodded, turning to intercept a fresh batch of reinforcements.James navigated the villa’s op

The boat slid to a stop just shy of the island’s rocky shore. The team disembarked silently, their movements rehearsed and deliberate. The sound of waves crashing against the rocks masked their approach as they moved toward the tree line.Kael crouched, scanning the area with his night-vision goggles. "Southeast perimeter’s clear for now. Guards are rotating.""Good," James said, signaling for the team to move forward.Winter stayed close behind him, her eyes darting to every shadow. "Remember, we’ve got a window of twenty minutes before the next patrol. After that, we’re exposed.""Then let’s not waste time," James said, leading the way.As they reached the fence, Kael pulled out a set of tools, working quickly to disable the security system."Give me thirty seconds," Kael muttered."Make it twenty," James said, keeping his eyes on the surrounding jungle.Kael smirked. "You’re a tough boss."The fence gave way, and the team slipped through, their movements ghost-like in the darkness.

The dimly lit room hummed with tension. James stood, arms crossed, watching the mercenary tied to the chair.The man’s face was bruised, his lip swollen from the brief but intense altercation.His eyes darted around, fear evident in every flicker, but he remained silent. James’s expression was cold, unreadable."Talk," James’s voice was low, his gaze unwavering."Where is she?"The mercenary swallowed, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.He had been trained not to break, but under James’s cold stare, his resolve faltered."You... you don’t understand," the man muttered, his voice shaking."It’s a trap. They’re waiting for you."James leaned in, his tone sharpening."Where is Sarah?"The mercenary’s eyes darted nervously to the door."An abandoned factory. On the mainland. They’ve fortified it, rigged it with traps... designed for you. You’re walking into a kill zone if you go after her."Winter, standing by the door, clenched her fists, her concern written all over her face."Jame