The moon cast a pale glow over the dense forest surrounding Lawrence’s fortress-like villa.The estate loomed ahead, its sharp angles and modern design illuminated by harsh floodlights.Ethan crouched behind a tree with Lisa and Harris, his sharp eyes scanning the property for weak points.Harper’s voice came through the earpiece, calm but urgent.“The perimeter is crawling with guards. They’ve got motion sensors along the eastern wall and a drone patrolling every five minutes. You’ll have a short window to breach the villa.”Ethan nodded. “Harris, you and the team take out the drone and neutralize the eastern sensors. Lisa and I will move in through the west entrance. Harper, keep us updated on their movements.”Lisa adjusted her gear, her face set with determination. “You think Lawrence is in there?”“He’s in there,” Ethan said grimly.He’s waiting for us, and he wants us to know it.Harris motioned to his team, their movements silent as they melted into the shadows.“Drone’s coming

The two men collided, grappling as the study descended into chaos.Ethan’s training gave him the upper hand, but Lawrence fought like a man with nothing to lose, his attacks wild and relentless.“You’ve spent your whole life protected by wealth and privilege,” Lawrence snarled, swinging a chair at Ethan. “Let’s see how you handle yourself without your guards.”Ethan ducked, countering with a sharp jab that sent Lawrence stumbling backward.“You’re right about one thing—I don’t need anyone else to deal with you.”They exchanged blows, the fight moving across the room.Books and decorative objects clattered to the floor as they struggled for dominance.Ethan finally managed to pin Lawrence against the desk, his forearm pressing into his half-uncle’s throat.“You’re done, Lawrence. Call off your plans and surrender.”Lawrence’s lips twisted into a smirk, even as he struggled to breathe.“You think I didn’t prepare for this?”Lawrence suddenly shifted his weight, shoving Ethan off balance

Harper’s voice returned, sharper now.“Wait—there’s something else. I’m intercepting a live message. It’s from Lawrence, sent to Volkov.”“Play it,” Ethan ordered.The audio crackled before Lawrence’s voice came through, cold and calculating.“Volkov, the arrangements are in place. The shipments must arrive on schedule. Once I’ve eliminated Ethan, the rest of the Elliots will fall in line.”Ethan’s chest tightened as the message continued.“I’ve spent my life in their shadow,” Lawrence said bitterly.“That ends now. By the time this is over, the family name will be mine. The empire will be mine. And Ethan will be nothing but a bad memory.”The message ended, leaving a heavy silence in its wake.Lisa’s voice was barely above a whisper.“He’s planning to kill you.”Ethan exhaled slowly, his mind racing.Lawrence’s obsession with the family name is driving him to destroy everything. He won’t stop until he’s torn it all down.“We won’t let him,” Ethan said, his voice hard.“Harper, can yo

The auction hall erupted in a flurry of noise and panic as Lawrence’s men sprang into action, drawing weapons and closing in on Ethan.Guests screamed, some ducking for cover behind the opulent weapon displays, while others scrambled toward the exits.Ethan, standing tall amidst the chaos, scanned the room quickly, his mind calculating every possible move.“Harper,” Ethan barked into his earpiece.“give me something. I need an escape route.”Harper’s voice crackled back, urgent and tense.“Emergency exits are blocked. Your best bet is to create a distraction and head for the east wing. It connects to the secondary hangar.”Ethan ducked as a bullet shattered a glass display behind him.No time for subtlety. I need to end this quickly.He grabbed a nearby chair and hurled it at the nearest attacker, the heavy metal connecting with a sickening thud.The man went down, and Ethan surged forward, disarming another operative with a swift twist of his wrist before sending him sprawling with a

The recorder’s cryptic message replayed in Ethan’s mind as he sat in the mansion’s war room, the air thick with tension.“This ends where it began.”Those words lingered, taunting him.Where it began... The original Elliot estate. That’s where he’s leading me.Harper’s voice broke the silence through the comms.“Ethan, I’ve cross-referenced the message with Lawrence’s movements. He’s heading to the original estate, the one your grandfather built.”Ethan nodded grimly.“I should’ve seen it earlier. The estate is the cornerstone of the Elliot legacy. If he destroys it, he’ll destroy everything it symbolizes.”Lisa leaned forward, her tone sharp with urgency.“He won’t stop there, Ethan. If he’s desperate enough to stage something this big, he’s not planning on leaving anyone standing.”Harris entered the room, armed and ready.“My team’s prepped. We’ll follow your lead. But if the estate is rigged with explosives, this could turn ugly fast.”“It’s already ugly,” Ethan said, his tone col