The world seemed to pause. Sunlight filtered through the dense tree canopy, creating shadows on the ground that danced like phantoms. They had just achieved the seemingly impossible—retrieving the drive from Ethan and escaping the firefight with their lives—but the peril was far from over.
Sienna sat at the table, her eyes fixed on the disassembled drives spread out before her. The pieces were all there, yet she could sense them slipping from her grasp.
“Ethan won’t relent,” Jack said, his voice low and somber. “This isn’t just about money for him. It’s personal. And he’s not alone in this.”
Sienna lifted her gaze to meet his, understanding reflected in her eyes. “I know.”
Anya paced the room, her fingers drumming nervously against her leg. “We’re short on time. If we don’t initiate th
