James lay on the hospital bed, his side bandaged and bruised.The room was quiet except for the soft beeping of the heart monitor. Winter entered, her expression serious.“James, how are you feeling?” Winter asked, pulling up a chair beside his bed.“I’ll survive,” James replied with a weak smile.“Thanks for coming.”Winter nodded.“We have a problem. I’ve been digging into Zhao’s operations, and it’s worse than we thought.”James frowned.“What did you find?”Winter took a deep breath.“He’s hired someone. A top assassin known as ‘The Widow.’ She’s known for taking out high-profile targets without a trace.”James’s eyes widened.“The Widow? I’ve heard the stories. She’s deadly.”“Exactly,” Winter said.“Zhao wants her to take down Emily and Sarah. He’s escalating his attacks.”James clenched his fists.“We need to protect them. What’s the plan?”Winter leaned forward.“First, we need to tighten security around your family. I’ve already contacted some of our best teams to monitor eve

Later that day, Emily sat in her office, surrounded by her team.The black roses still sat on her desk, a grim reminder of the threat they faced.“Is everything secure here?” James asked, entering the room.Emily nodded.“Yes. Winter has reinforced our security. But I can’t stop worrying about Sarah.”James walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder.“We’re doing everything we can to protect both of you.”Suddenly, an alert sounded on Emily’s computer.A notification popped up: a bouquet of black roses had been delivered to the office.Emily stared at it in horror.“They’re still trying to scare us.”Winter entered the room, her expression determined.“It’s time. We’ve located The Widow. She’s on her way here.”Emily stood up, her resolve hardening. “Then let’s end this.”As night fell, Winter and her team moved into position around Emily’s building.They were ready for The Widow’s attack.James joined them, his presence a source of strength.“We need to stay alert. She’s dangerous

Zhao paced furiously in his lavish office, the dark wood paneling and ornate furnishings doing little to calm his boiling temper.His Syndicate generals sat in silence, their expressions a mix of frustration and disdain.One of them, a stout man with a scar running down his jaw, finally spoke.“You promised results, Zhao,” the man said, his voice laced with anger.“Instead, The Widow fails, and we lose resources. Do you think the Syndicate will tolerate this?”Zhao shot him a venomous glare.“Careful, Victor. I’ve carried this Syndicate for years. One failure doesn’t erase my accomplishments.”A woman with sharp eyes and a cold demeanor leaned forward.“This isn’t just ‘one failure,’ Zhao. You’ve spent millions, burned bridges, and what do we have to show for it? A botched attack and rising heat from law enforcement.”Another man chimed in.“Perhaps it’s time to reconsider your position. Leadership should bring results, not empty promises.”Zhao slammed his fist on the desk.“You thin

Winter sat in the dimly lit café, her back to the wall, scanning every face that entered.The informant had insisted on a neutral location, but Winter had learned long ago that “neutral” didn’t always mean “safe.” Her coffee sat untouched, cooling as she kept her hand near her concealed weapon.Kael’s voice buzzed in her earpiece.“Anything yet?”“Not yet,” Winter muttered, her eyes narrowing on a woman entering the café.Her heart skipped a beat. “Wait… it’s Jessica.”“Jessica?” Kael’s tone was sharp.“You mean the one who sold James out?”“The same,” Winter confirmed, her hand tightening around her cup. “Stay close, Kael. This just got complicated.”Jessica approached the table cautiously, her face pale and drawn. She sat across from Winter, her hands trembling slightly as she folded them on the table.“Winter,” Jessica began, her voice low. “Thank you for coming.”Winter leaned back, her expression cold.“Cut the pleasantries. Why are you here?”Jessica hesitated, her eyes darting

The port buzzed with activity, towering shipping containers casting long shadows under the dim industrial lights.James adjusted his cap, blending seamlessly into the crowd of workers.Kael stood beside him, similarly disguised, carrying a clipboard and pretending to check cargo.“Everything looks normal so far,” Kael muttered, his voice low. “Are we sure about this intel?”James scanned the scene, his sharp eyes catching subtle movements. “Jessica’s info checked out. Look at the far side—extra guards, no uniforms. Syndicate all over it.”Kael followed his gaze, spotting the enforcers. “Got it. How do you want to play this?”“We sabotage first,” James said. “Disable the trucks and boats. If they can’t move the weapons, it buys us time.”Kael smirked. “Classic. I like it.”They moved through the port, blending with the workers as they slipped between containers. Kael knelt near a parked truck, planting a small device on its axle.“Explosives ready,” Kael whispered. “What’s next?”James