The air inside Ceil's estate felt heavier than before.
Velena sat in silence, her mind racing. The video message had changed everything. Andrew Steele wasn't just alive—he was coming for them.
Ceil had barely moved since watching it. His fingers tapped against the desk in a slow, controlled rhythm. It was the only sign that he was thinking, planning, and possibly, seething.
Velena exhaled. "Say something."
Ceil's gaze flickered to her, unreadable. "We have less time than I thought."
Velena frowned. "You expected this."
Ceil leaned back in his chair, his expression perfectly neutral. "I expected him to make a move eventually. I didn't expect him to warn me first."
That part unsettled Velena the most.
Andrew Steele wasn't just sending a threat. He was playing with Ceil. Like he was giving him time to react—because he already knew the outcome.
A dangerous game. And Blackthorn never liked being played.
THE FIRST COUNTERATTACK...
Ceil stood abruptly, grabbing his phone. "We need intel. Now."
Velena followed him as he walked towards a secured room. The door slid open, revealing a high-tech surveillance setup. Multiple screens flickered to life, showing security feeds, data reports, and encrypted messages.
A man stood waiting inside—Lucian Carter, Ceil's right-hand strategist.
Lucian glanced at them, his expression serious. "I assume you saw the message."
Ceil nodded. "Tell me what we have."
Lucian's finger moved swiftly over the keyboard. "Not much. No known location. No digital footprint. It's like he disappeared for years and only resurfaced now."
Velena crossed her arms. "Then how the hell did he send a message?"
Lucian's jaw tightened. "He used one of our own encrypted channels."
Velena's breath caught. "You're saying he hacked Ceil's network?"
Lucian nodded.
Ceil remained silent for a moment. Then, finally, he exhaled. "He's been watching us for longer than we thought."
Velena's pulse pounded. Andrew wasn't just coming for Ceil. He had already been here.
THE WARNING THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING...
Before Velena could process that thought, a soft chime echoed through the room—an upcoming message.
Lucian's eyes narrowed as he pulled it up. "It's from an unknown source."
The screen flickered, revealing a single sentence:
"You're running out of time."
Velena inhaled sharply.
Lucian swore under his breath. "We need to move now."
Ceil didn't blink. "We don't run. We set the trap."
Velena turned to him, tension curling in her gut. "You want him to walk into a trap? What if he's expecting that?"
Ceil smirked, but there was no humor in it. "Then we let him believe he's winning."
Velena studied him carefully. This wasn't just about revenge anymore. This was about power. And Blackthorn never lost.
THE BAIT IS SET...
Ceil walked over to one of the screens, pulling up an encrypted server. With a few clicks, he opened a private chat room.
Ceil Blackthorn: Let's talk.
Velena frowned. "You're reaching out to him?"
Ceil didn't look at her. "No. I'm making him think he's in control."
A minute passed. Then—
A reply appeared.
Unknown: You finally stopped pretending.
Velena felt a chill creep up her spine.
Ceil typed back.
Ceil Blackthorn: What do you want?
A pause. Then—
Unknown: The same thing I wanted before. You.
Velena's stomach twisted. She glanced at Ceil, expecting some reaction, but he remained perfectly still.
Then he typed:
Ceil Blackthorn: Come get me.
A long silence followed. Then the final message appeared.
Unknown: I already am.
At that exact moment, the power cut out. The screens flickered to black.
A second later, a single emergency light switched on, casting eerie shadows against the walls.
Velena's pulse pounded. "What the hell just happened?"
Lucian cursed under his breath. "It's not a system failure. Someone cut the power from the outside."
Ceil's jaw clenched. "He's here."
Velena's breath hitched. "Now?"
Ceil turned toward her, his voice calm but sharp. "Get ready."
A storm was coming.
And they were standing in the middle of it.