The abandoned warehouse loomed against the darkening sky, its windows like hollow eyes staring down at Ethan. Victoria had chosen the meeting place well – isolated, with clear views of any approaching vehicles.He found her waiting in what used to be an office, perched elegantly on a dusty desk despite their surroundings."I was wondering when you'd come to me," Victoria said, her red lips curving into a smile. "Terrible business with the break-in. How's dear Lisa holding up?"Ethan remained by the door. "Cut the act, Victoria. Are you working with them?""The Black Hawk?" She laughed, but it didn't reach her eyes. "You really don't know anything, do you?""Then enlighten me.""Twenty years ago, the Black Hawk destroyed my family." She slid off the desk, her heels clicking on the concrete floor. "Everything we had – gone in a single night. Sound familiar?""Why should I believe you?""Because unlike your family, Ethan, I have nothing left to hide." She pulled out her phone, showing hi

Rain pounded against the SUV's windows as Ethan studied the warehouse through night-vision binoculars.Two guards patrolled the perimeter, their hawk masks gleaming in the darkness."This feels too easy," Lisa whispered from beside him.Ethan lowered the binoculars."That's what worries me."His phone lit up with a call from their tech specialist."Talk to me, Marcus.""I've got eyes on all exits," Marcus replied. "Thermal imaging shows four heat signatures inside – probably Maria's family. Two guards outside, three more on the upper level.""Any sign of Black Hawk leadership?""Negative. Place looks like a standard holding facility."Lisa touched Ethan's arm."We should call in backup—""No," he cut her off."We can't trust anyone else. You saw what happened with Maria.""Then what's the plan?"Ethan pulled out his tablet, showing a blueprint of the warehouse."Marcus disabled their security system. We go in through the loading bay, neutralize the guards, get Maria's family out. Sim

As Ethan stared at his laptop screen, the glow illuminating his haunted expression.Files upon files detailed decades of his family's darkest secrets."I can't believe this," he muttered as Lisa entered with two cups of coffee."How bad is it?""Worse than I imagined." He pulled up a document."Look at this. July 1985 – Black Hawk operatives eliminated three of our biggest competitors. All ruled as accidents."Lisa leaned closer."And your grandfather ordered this?""Not just ordered it. He..." Ethan's voice cracked."He wore the mask himself.""What do you mean?""There's footage." His fingers trembled over the keyboard."Watch."The video showed Richard Elliot in a hawk mask, standing over a man bound to a chair."Please," the man begged."I have a family—""So do I," Richard's distorted voice replied."That's why this has to be done."Lisa touched Ethan's shoulder."You don't have to watch this.""Yes, I do." He opened another file."Weapons smuggling through our shipping division.

The acrid smell of smoke filled the air as Ethan navigated the wreckage of the west wing.Firefighters had managed to contain the flames, but the damage was catastrophic.Staff members scurried about, tending to the injured and salvaging what they could.Ethan’s jaw tightened as he surveyed the destruction, his heart heavy with the weight of failure.Lisa approached him, her face pale but determined.“Ethan, we need to regroup. You can’t do this alone.”“I don’t have time to regroup,” Ethan snapped, though his tone softened when he saw the concern in her eyes.“This attack wasn’t random. Caleb was just the tip of the iceberg. I need answers.”“And you’ll get them,” Lisa said firmly, “but not if you burn yourself out.”Ethan nodded reluctantly and turned back toward his study, now barely recognizable.Debris littered the room, and the once-polished furniture was reduced to charred fragments.As he sifted through the remnants of his desk, his fingers brushed against a hidden latch.“Wha

Gunfire echoed through the bunker’s tight corridors, the sound deafening as Ethan and his team fought their way forward.Sparks flew as bullets ricocheted off the walls, and smoke filled the air, stinging their eyes.“On your left!” Ethan shouted, firing at a guard who emerged from the shadows.Lisa crouched behind a steel column, her heart racing.She had never been in a firefight before, but fear didn’t paralyze her—it sharpened her instincts.When a guard lunged at her from the side, she reacted.“Lisa, look out!” Ethan’s voice cut through the chaos.She turned just in time to raise the pistol Ethan had given her.Her hands shook, but her aim was steady. She fired, hitting the guard in the leg and forcing him to drop his weapon.Ethan reached her side, finishing the job with a swift knockout blow.“You okay?”Lisa nodded, breathing heavily.“Remind me not to underestimate how insane your life is.”Ethan gave her a quick smirk.“Welcome to the deep end.”As the team advanced, Ethan