The haunting melody of the waltz filled the grand ballroom, and Ethan guided Lisa through the swirling mass of masked dancers.They moved with calculated precision, pretending to lose themselves in the rhythm while their eyes scanned the crowd.Lisa leaned in, her voice barely audible over the music.“The man with the hawk lapel pin is heading toward the stage.”Ethan glanced subtly in the direction she indicated.The man slipped through the throng of guests, his movements deliberate, until he reached the gala host standing near the microphone.“He’s making his move,” Ethan murmured.“Stay close.”As they danced closer to the stage, Ethan’s sharp eyes caught the man whispering to the host.The host nodded, glancing around nervously before stepping aside.“I’m going to intercept him,” Ethan said.Lisa tightened her grip on his hand.“Be careful.”Ethan released her and navigated through the crowd, his movements smooth yet purposeful.As the man turned to leave the stage area, Ethan ste

The moon hung low in the sky, casting an eerie silver glow over the Elliot family cemetery.Rows of ornate gravestones stood like silent sentinels, their inscriptions weathered by time.Ethan and Lisa stepped cautiously through the thick mist that clung to the ground, the crunch of gravel beneath their feet the only sound breaking the silence.“This place is unsettling,” Lisa muttered, hugging her coat tighter around her.“Are you sure this is where we’ll find answers?”Ethan nodded, his expression grim.“If the note is right, the answers have been here all along.”They reached the largest monument in the cemetery, a towering granite tombstone engraved with the name Edward Elliot—Ethan’s grandfather.The words “A Legacy Built to Last” were inscribed beneath the name.“Here we are,” Ethan said, his voice low.He knelt in front of the grave, running his fingers over the edges of the base.“There has to be something hidden. He wouldn’t leave a clue like that for no reason.”Lisa crouched

The abandoned airfield loomed in the distance, its crumbling hangars and runways bathed in the faint glow of floodlights.Ethan crouched behind a ridge with his strike team, surveying the facility through binoculars.Armed guards patrolled the perimeter, while surveillance drones buzzed through the air, scanning for intruders.“They’ve fortified this place,” Lisa said softly, crouched beside him.She had insisted on joining despite Ethan’s protests, her resolve unshaken.“They’re protecting something big,” Ethan replied, lowering the binoculars.“This isn’t just a stronghold—it’s their nerve center.”One of his team members, a seasoned operative named Harris, leaned in.“What’s the play, sir? A frontal assault would be suicide with those drones.”Ethan smirked.“We’re not walking in through the front door. We use the chaos to our advantage. Harris, take a team to the east perimeter. Create a diversion—smoke grenades, flashbangs, the works. Keep their attention focused there.”Harris n

The Lisa by his side began to glitch, her image flickering as the truth was revealed—she was a projection, a clever hologram.Ethan’s mind raced, his fury directed at Kane.“What do you want?”Kane’s expression darkened.“You have a choice, Ethan. You can stop me from escaping and end this little dance of ours. Or you can save her.”The live feed shifted to show a timer on the wall next to Lisa: 00:15:00 and counting down.Kane gestured to the screen.“When that timer hits zero, the room she’s in will be flooded with a gas that’s... less than forgiving. But hey, you’re a resourceful man. Maybe you’ll figure it out in time. Or maybe you won’t.”Ethan’s chest tightened.“You’re a coward,” he spat.“No, Ethan,” Kane said, his tone chillingly calm.“I’m a survivor. And tonight, you’ll prove what you really care about: your precious family legacy or the woman who’s been your anchor.”Ethan’s mind raced as he weighed his options.His team was positioned around the hangar, ready to take out

The study was eerily quiet except for the faint hum of Ethan’s laptop as he replayed the video.The screen displayed a masked figure sitting in a dimly lit room, their voice distorted but deliberate.“Ethan Elliot,” the figure began, their tone calm yet menacing.“You thought killing Kane would end this. But The Black Hawk doesn’t die—it evolves.”Lisa sat beside Ethan, her hand resting on his arm.Her knuckles were white, and her face was pale as she watched the video.“Who is this?” she asked softly.Ethan’s jaw tightened.“Someone trying to pick up where Kane left off. Someone who wants us to know they’re coming.”The figure leaned closer to the camera, their mask gleaming under the faint light.“Kane was only a part of the plan. His vision was... limited. But under my leadership, The Black Hawk will soar higher than ever. And you, Ethan, will watch everything you love fall apart.”The figure paused, then gestured to something off-camera.The video cut to a series of images—bluepri