"It's okay, little sister," Zayn murmured, stroking her hair. The protective warmth that flooded him was almost overwhelming, pushing away the cold ruthlessness. "You're safe now. I'm here. No one is ever going to hurt you again. Not as long as I breathe."
Just then, the sky was filled with the roar of a transport chopper. Zayn’s elite security team, a mix of former Blackthorn operatives and Leo’s tech-savvy specialists, descended from fast ropes. They moved with military precision, securing the perimeter, checking the neutralized kidnappers, and setting up a defensive cordon.
"Sir! Perimeter secured! Three hostiles down. One critically injured, two unconscious," Thorne's voice barked into Zayn's comms. "Your ground team is here, sir."
"Good," Zayn replied, his voice still thick with em
