Chloe's POV
Gideon led me through a side corridor I had never used before, past unmarked doors and a narrow junction lit by a single recessed light.
We descended a short flight of concrete steps that opened into a wide underground space. Rows of industrial fixtures cast an even, white glow across the floor.
The air was cooler here, carrying the faint scent of metal, rubber matting, gun oil, and something sharper underneath that I could not name. Painted lanes ran the length of the room.
Equipment stands, storage cages, and training stations stood in ordered rows along the walls.
The moment we entered, the lead instructor and his team straightened as one. Boots struck the floor in unison. Voices rose in a single, sharp call.
"Boss!"
Gideon gave a short, dismissive wav
