vy silence. Emily pressed herself against the window, her trembling hands gripping her seat as her

behind them, his posture rigid with alertness. The gun tucked

at him through the rear

ns. The penthouse was compromised, and ev

dge," he finally s

, her brow furrowin

e replied, his voice clipped. "It's

f traffic as Emily leaned closer to Alexan

the road behind them. "We

than ever, the stakes now life and death. But she knew the

-

the Pe

stine penthouse. Bullet holes riddled the walls, shattered glass glit

she surveyed the wreckage. A team of masked operatives

he said, her vo

ward cautiously. "Hartley was

se he did. Underestimating him was you

. "What are yo

tone deadly calm. "Find him. And this

-

Safe

ked away in a labyrinth of near-identical buildings. Alexander had u

her body trembling from adrenaline and exhaus

e door behind them. "But they wi

ly sank onto the couch, still shaken, while Alexa

y above a whisper. "Harris... he risked

t on his shoulders, but he pushed the guilt aside. "Then we make sure

ion. "Sophia's the key. If we can trace her communica

closer as Emily powered up her lapto

-

s Comma

hia oversaw the hunt for Alexander. A massive map of New Yor

and. She answered witho

" the voice on the other end s

not hiding. He's planning something. Double

standing beside her, a sharp-sui

l come for us?"

d smile. "He has no choice. And

-

eakt

mily's persist

she said, her voice

o her side, stari

m Sophia to one of her contacts. It mentions a '

ce it?" Alex

the keyboard. "Already on

ne buzzed. He glanced at the s

, then answe

nical. "You're out of time, Hartley. Surrender,

ne wen

ern etched across her

ed. "A warning. But we

-

Ware

ly approached the warehouse on foot. It loomed ahea

d through a side door, keeping to the sh

the center of the vast space. Sophia was among the

e said, her tone brimming with confide

ip of his gun. He motioned for Emily

a loose floorbo

ng onto his. A slow, dangerou

dripping with mock surprise. "H

lent, all eyes t

r voice steady despite her fear. "It

y," she said, her tone almost pitying. "T