stark contrast to the tension lingering in the room. Alexander and Emily sat surrounded by laptops, docum

ched across her face. "Alex," she said, her voice waveri

he screen was unlike anything he'd seen before-detaile

ice barely audible. "They're not just funding operatio

wer or political leverage anymore. It was about control on

he said. "It's their endgame. And they

hey succeed, millions of people co

respond, a knock at the

instinctively brushing the gun tucked in his waistband. Opening the door s

ulling him inside. "What th

e. "I had to come. This... this is everything. A recording from one of Sophia

es locked on the drive. "

Play it. You'll

-

s Priva

eed on her monitor. The camera showed Harris entering Alexan

ldly into the receiver. "And Alexander's ge

as calm and professional. "U

e steel. "Then make sure Alexander kn

es narrowing. It wa

-

the Pe

grainy video began to play. It showed a dimly lit room, a long table surrounded

addressed the group. "Phase Two is in motion," she said. "Alexander H

ly, catching murmurs from

spect?" one

's suspicious, but it doesn

ing to her mouth. "She's..

trying to tell you. Sophia isn't just a player i

ed from the front door. Splinters of wood flew thr

ulling Emily behind the couch a

hit him square in the chest, and he

d down. Adrenaline surged as he drew his gun,

nder shouted, pulling Em

shattering glass echoing behind them. The masked men were relentles

ly raced downward, their breaths ragged. The chaos above

gasped, tears stre

ed, though guilt tore at him. The

the exit and into the alley. The cold night a

ally dragging Emily inside. "Drive!" he order

g the penthouse-and Harr

-

a's M

feed. She clenched her fists as the masked me

age simmered. "Then we move forward with Phase T

ith determination. The game had shi

-

the

ined with Harris's blood. "He... h

road ahead. "And now we have what we need to t

h fear. "They're not going to stop, Alex. They'

d grimly, his jaw tightenin

arer. The web of deception was unraveling, but with every thread they

ime to f