Chapter 16: Pieces on the Board
The morning brought more than sunlight—it brought war.
Elara returned to Declan's townhouse to find the living room transformed into a tactical hub. Maps, documents, security feeds. Declan was already pacing, tablet in hand.
"They hit one of our drop servers last night," he said without looking up. "Encrypted backups were breached. Damon's not just reacting anymore. He's making moves."
Elara tightened her grip on her bag. "Then we move faster."
Declan looked up, eyebrows raised. "You're different."
"I'm done playing defense."
She tossed Nadia's flash drive onto the table. "There's more on her than we thought. Connections to a dummy corporation tied to Damon's biotech contracts."
Declan picked it up, frowning. "Biotech?"
"Memory research. Experimental programs. I think Damon used me as a test subject—and Killian never knew the full scope."
Declan's voice lowered. "That would explain the side contracts I found. High-level clearance. Military interest."
Elara's heart skipped. "He's building something."
"No." Declan's jaw tightened. "He's weaponizing something."
Suddenly, the room filled with the sound of an alert—Declan's security feed.
"Killian?" Elara asked.
"No." Declan's eyes narrowed. "Someone else."
A figure appeared on the screen, walking up to the townhouse gate in broad daylight.
It was Nadia.
She held a white envelope in her hand—and a smirk on her face.
Declan cursed under his breath. "She's not running anymore. She wants us to see her."
Elara stepped forward. "Let her in."
Declan blinked. "You sure?"
"She wants a final play?" Elara's eyes narrowed. "Then let's put every piece on the board."