The night air was thick with tension as Dylan's elite Phantom Team positioned themselves silently around the dockside compound. Dressed in black, with faces obscured and weapons drawn, they moved like shadows, each step precise and calculated.
Dylan crouched behind a container, eyes trained on the building ahead where Richard's explosives were being monitored.
"On my mark," he whispered into the mic.
Jayden's voice came through his earpiece. "All teams in position."
Dylan's eyes narrowed. "Now."
In a flash, the silence shattered. Silenced shots and sudden flashes lit up the darkness. Richard's men were taken completely by surprise. Explosives were disarmed before they could react. Within minutes, the entire dockside compound was overrun.
"Clear!" one of Dylan's men called out.
But Dylan didn't celebrate. He stood in the heart of the chaos, scanning for one person—Richard.
"He's not here," Jayden confirmed a moment later. "This was a decoy."
Dylan clenched his fists. "He played us."
---
Elsewhere – Richard's Hideout
Richard leaned against the edge of a balcony, swirling a glass of wine. Across from him was a large screen showing footage of the attack at the docks.
"You always were the tactical one, brother," he muttered, lips curling into a cold smile. "But you still think like a protector."
Marcus approached him with a file. "We found something, sir. Heaven's schedule. She takes morning walks—alone."
Richard's gaze sharpened. "And the guards?"
"Few. Discreet."
A long pause.
"Then it's time we said hello to the queen of the king."
---
Back at the Mansion – Heaven's Room
The first rays of sunlight painted the walls gold. Heaven sat at the edge of her bed, reading a letter from her brother Michael, now recovering far away under protection.
A soft knock interrupted her.
"Come in."
It was Dylan, dressed in black, a trace of fatigue on his face but his presence still strong.
"You were out last night," she said gently.
"I was." He didn't try to hide it. "Richard set a trap. We walked right into it."
Heaven stood up, concern in her eyes. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," he said. "But this… this is just beginning."
He took her hand, something rare and unexpected. "He's coming for you next."
Her breath caught. "Then what do we do?"
Dylan's voice was like steel. "We prepare. And this time, I'll make sure you're not just protected—I'll make sure he never gets close."
Heaven looked up at him. "Promise me one thing."
"What?"
"That you won't become like him."
Dylan didn't answer right away. Then, softly, "I won't—because I have you."
But even as he said it, his mind was already racing, calculating what he'd have to sacrifice to keep that promise.