Zayn watched Vanessa’s face, the utter devastation etched onto it. The fury that had consumed him moments ago began to ebb, replaced by a cold, calculating resolve. He had won this battle, secured Aria’s future, and crippled Vanessa’s immediate resources. But the war was far from over.
"My terms are simple," Zayn said, his voice ringing with a chilling finality as he addressed the Blackthorn commander. "You walk away from Vanessa Carter. Completely. You provide me with all intelligence on her operations, her associates, and her vulnerabilities. In return, you get Leo's expertise in secure, untraceable blockchain protocols, and a significant 'severance' package from your current client. Consider it a merger. Or, a hostile takeover, depending on how you look at it."
He paused, letting the
