Zhao sat at the head of a long table in his dimly lit office, his fingers tapping impatiently against the polished wood.The door creaked open, and a tall, well-dressed man with salt-and-pepper hair strolled in, a smug smile on his face.“Zhao,” Leonard Tarlose greeted, his voice smooth and commanding.“It’s been too long.”Zhao’s scowl softened slightly, though his eyes remained sharp.“Leonard. I didn’t think you’d show your face again after the fiasco in Madrid.”Leonard chuckled, taking a seat across from Zhao. “Madrid was a setback, not a failure. And if memory serves, it was your indecision that cost us.”Zhao leaned forward, his tone icy. “I don’t need a history lesson. Why are you here?”Leonard smirked. “Because you need me. Your little feud with James is spiraling out of control, and your Syndicate is starting to doubt your leadership.”Zhao’s jaw tightened. “Careful, Leonard.”“I’m only stating facts,” Leonard said, spreading his hands. “But I’m not here to gloat. I’m here

The room was silent except for the tapping of Zhao’s fingers on his desk.The glow of the monitors around him illuminated his face, twisted in fury.Reports of James’s humiliating takedown of Leonard Tarlose had reached him, and the Syndicate’s patience with Zhao was wearing thin.An enforcer entered cautiously, bowing his head.“Sir, Leonard is demanding action. The Syndicate leaders are questioning your—”“Enough!” Zhao snapped, his fist slamming against the desk.“I am the Syndicate. If they doubt me, I’ll remind them who holds the real power.”The enforcer flinched.“What are your orders, sir?”Zhao leaned forward, his voice cold and deliberate.“James has held the advantage for too long. It’s time to tear apart everything he’s built. Hit Emily’s company, shut down Kael’s operations, and dismantle Winter’s networks. All at once.”The enforcer hesitated.“Coordinated strikes? That’ll stretch our resources thin.”Zhao’s glare could have frozen fire.“Then make it work. I want them s

The explosion shattered the early morning silence, shaking buildings and sending plumes of smoke into the sky.James’s safehouse trembled under the shockwave, and alarms blared from every corner.Winter rushed into the main room, her laptop tucked under her arm.“James, it’s started. Zhao’s hitting everything at once.”James was already strapping on his gear.“Locations?”“Emily’s headquarters, Caleb’s logistics hub, and one of LaGrine’s safehouses,” Winter said, her voice tense. “All within the last ten minutes.”Kael stormed in, a rifle slung over his shoulder.“Zhao’s throwing everything he’s got. He’s desperate.”James nodded grimly.“Desperate means dangerous. Winter, get me a sitrep on Emily’s HQ.”Winter tapped furiously on her laptop.“The fire suppression systems kicked in, but the bomb took out most of the second floor. No casualties, but the building’s unstable.”James turned to Kael.“Get a team over there now. Secure the area and get everyone out safely.”Kael nodded.“On

The camp was quiet, the usual hum of preparation muted by the weight of suspicion.Winter stared intently at her monitor, tracing the short-range signal as Kael paced behind her, arms crossed and his brow furrowed.“Got it,” Winter said suddenly, her voice cutting through the silence.“The signal’s coming from the south end of camp, near the equipment storage.”Kael stopped pacing.“Who’s over there right now?”Winter checked a roster, her face growing grim.“Jackson.”Kael let out a low growl. “LaGrine’s guy? He’s been with us for years.”“Apparently not entirely with us,” Winter replied, her tone sharp.James entered the room, his presence commanding immediate attention.“What do you have?”Winter turned the screen toward him.“The signal’s coming from Jackson. He’s the mole.”James’s face hardened. “Where is he now?”“Moving fast,” Winter said, glancing at another screen.“He’s heading toward the forest perimeter.”James nodded. “Kael, take a team and intercept him. Bring him back

James stared at the blinking dot on the tracker, his jaw clenched. Emily’s signal was steady, but it hadn’t moved in hours. Kael stood beside him, his weapon slung over his shoulder, his expression grim.“She’s in a Syndicate hideout,” Winter said over the comms, her voice steady. “Industrial area on the outskirts of the city. Heavily guarded, and the layout is a maze. They’ve rigged it with traps.”James’s eyes narrowed. “We’re getting her out. No matter what.”Kael nodded. “What’s the plan?”“We go in quiet, take out the guards, and get to Emily before they know what’s happening,” James replied.Kael smirked. “Sounds like my kind of mission.”Winter’s voice came through again. “Be careful. The hideout’s run by Axel Graves, one of Zhao’s top enforcers. He’s smart, ruthless, and enjoys playing mind games.”James’s voice was cold. “If Axel gets in my way, he won’t enjoy it for long.”The Syndicate hideout loomed in the distance, a dilapidated warehouse surrounded by chain-link fencing