The roar of the engine faded to a low thrum as Zayn’s driver pulled away from Lily Harper’s ruined gala, leaving the whispers and shattered illusions behind. Inside the sleek cabin, the city lights blurred into streaks of neon as Zayn leaned back, his eyes closed. The phantom bullet wound in his chest pulsed, a grim rhythm that echoed the System’s latest warning: Warning: New threat signature detected. Vanessa Carter has escalated 'Project Nemesis'. Estimated target: Host's personal assets. Security levels: Critical.
Let her try, Zayn thought, the grim smile still playing on his lips. His finger hovered over Leo’s contact on his secure phone. "Leo," he said into the phone, his voice as cold as the winter night. "Activate 'Project Aegis'. Lock down every single one of my personal and corpo
