The war room in the temporary safe house buzzed with urgent activity as maps of the East River warehouses were spread across the large marble table. Red markers indicated Victor Lang’s planned strike points. Aria stood beside Dante, her hand resting on his arm, drawing strength from his solid presence even as fear coiled in her stomach. The Commission hearing had been a victory, but Victor was far from defeated. He was coming for them with everything he had.
“Victor is hitting us with everything,” Sofia reported, pointing at the red markers. “Three warehouses simultaneously. He wants you specifically, Aria. Alive. He sees you as the key to breaking Dante completely.”
Aria’s stomach twisted, but she lifted her chin, refusing to let the old weakness show. “Then we don’t let him have me. We
