The dawn brought with it an eerie stillness over the estate, as if the battle had been a dream.Yet the shattered windows, damaged walls, and scorched marble told another story.The Elliot name had survived another attack, but at what cost? Ethan stood in the grand hall, gazing at the remnants of the battle.The estate was secure, Lawrence was in custody, and the immediate threat had passed—but the weight of Lawrence’s parting words lingered like a shadow.“The Elliot name will always carry its curse.”Lisa approached quietly, her presence grounding him.“You’ve been standing here for almost an hour,” she said, her voice gentle.Ethan didn’t turn, his eyes fixed on the cracked emblem of the family crest hanging above the fireplace.“Do you think he’s right?”“Who?”“Lawrence,” Ethan said.“Do you think the Elliot name is cursed? That no matter what we do, we’ll always be fighting enemies, scandals, betrayals?”Lisa stepped closer, placing a hand on his arm.“You’ve spent your entire l

The morning sunlight filtered through the trees as Ethan and Lisa drove down a winding country road, far from the chaos of the city.The address Harper had unearthed—a secluded property on the outskirts of the city—felt like a relic of another era, untouched by time.“Are you sure this is the place?” Lisa asked, her eyes scanning the dense forest that lined the road.Ethan nodded, gripping the steering wheel tightly.“The letter mentioned a hidden property. If my grandfather went through this much trouble to keep it off the radar, it has to be important.”Lisa frowned, her worry evident.“What if this leads to another dead end? Or worse—what if The Black Hawk is already one step ahead?”Ethan glanced at her, his expression resolute.“Then we’ll deal with it, like we always do. But I have a feeling this is where the answers are.”The car came to a stop in front of a rusted iron gate overgrown with ivy.Beyond it, a narrow dirt path led to a small, weathered cottage partially hidden by

The photograph of the woman—Margaret Reid, or Evelyn Hart as her alias suggested—lay on the dashboard of Ethan’s car as he sped through the city streets.Harper’s voice buzzed in his earpiece, detailing the information she’d unearthed in record time.“She’s been living under the radar for years, Ethan,” Harper explained.“Margaret Reid—real name unknown—is tied to multiple offshore accounts connected to The Black Hawk. She’s been funneling money through shell corporations for over a decade. This isn’t just some innocent bystander. She’s deeply involved.”Lisa, seated in the passenger seat, frowned as she studied the photograph.“Do you think she’s working with them willingly, or is she being manipulated?”Ethan’s jaw tightened.“That’s what we need to find out. Either she’s a pawn in their game or a player. Either way, we need to reach her before they do.”Harper continued, “I tracked her last known location to a penthouse in downtown Manhattan. But get this—the building is owned by a

The drive to the remote coastal town was long and quiet, save for the rhythmic crash of the waves visible from the winding road.Ethan’s mind churned with possibilities as he gripped the steering wheel tightly, Lisa seated beside him, her brow furrowed with concern.“Are you sure about this?” Lisa finally asked, breaking the silence.Ethan’s eyes remained on the road.“No. But if Margaret is the key to unraveling The Black Hawk’s plans, we can’t afford to let her slip away.”Lisa frowned.“And what if she’s not? What if she’s just another pawn, or worse, working for them willingly?”Ethan glanced at her.“Then I need to know why. If she’s connected to The Black Hawk, she’s a liability. If she’s being used, she’s a potential ally. Either way, she holds answers.”Harper’s voice crackled through the comms.“I’ve run every trace on her accounts and movements. She’s been off the grid for weeks, but this town fits her last known coordinates. She’s either hiding, or someone wants her hidden.

The bullet tore through the window, shattering glass everywhere.I barely had time to react before I grabbed Margaret and pulled her to the ground."Well, that was subtle," I muttered, pressing my back against the wall as another shot rang out, embedding itself in the wooden beam above us.Margaret trembled slightly, her tough act cracking just a bit."They found me," she whispered.I rolled my eyes."Oh, really? I thought we were just getting a surprise home renovation."Lisa’s voice crackled in my earpiece."Sniper’s moving—north ridge, about 200 yards. I’m going after him.""Try to leave him breathing," I shot back."I have questions.""You and your damn questions," Lisa grumbled, then went silent.I turned to Margaret."Alright, princess, time to move. Unless you enjoy being a sitting duck."She hesitated, her eyes darting toward the window."They won’t stop."I gave her a deadpan look."Yeah, well, neither do I. Difference is, I shoot back."Grabbing her arm, I led her through th