Lara's phone rang.
"Hey, Mom… I might be late—hm? What?"
Her face drained.
She cut the call mid-sentence.
"Daisy," she said quickly, already grabbing her bag, "please take care here. I need to go."
She didn't wait for questions. She ran out, engine roaring as she sped off.
Barely a minute later, Rain appeared at Daisy's side, eyes scanning the room.
"Where's Lara?" he asked, worry sharp in his voice.
"She just left—in a hurry," Daisy said. "What's wrong?"
Rain didn't answer. He turned and strode out.
"Rain—" Daisy followed him to the parking lot.
"Get in," he said, already opening the car door.
As he started the engine, Daisy's phone buzzed again. She froze.
"Lara's dad…?" she whispered.
Rain nodded, jaw tight. "He's been kidnapped."
Daisy gasped. "By who?"
Rain's grip tightened on the steering wheel. "Nick."
Her breath hitched. "What? Why would Nick do that? He loves Lara. He respects her dad."
Rain let out a short, humorless breath. "He never loved Lara. He loved the power that came with her."
Daisy stayed silent, listening.
"Ben runs this city," Rain continued. "And he has deep control in City C—industries, routes, influence. If Nick gets hold of Ben's assets, moving illegal weapons becomes easy. Untraceable."
Daisy shook her head. "But why would Nick even go this far? Into all this?"
Rain's voice lowered. "Because his family was destroyed by Ben—legally, but ruthlessly. His father and uncle were blacklisted, their business wiped out. Loans piled up. His father cut ties with the uncle to survive."
He took a sharp turn, speeding up.
"Nick didn't handle it well," Rain went on. "Drugs. Rage. He kept visiting his uncle—the one tied to Dane and the underworld. His parents never knew. That influence… dragged him here."
Daisy stared out the window, dread settling in her chest.
"And now," Rain said grimly, "he's crossed the line."
The car tore down the highway toward City C.
In abounded military space, in city C
Gunfire ripped through the air.
Three armed men dropped before they could react.
A figure in black moved through the smoke—fast, precise.
Lara.
Across the room stood a man dressed in white, face hidden. Ben lay unconscious at his feet.
"I don't have a deal with you," the man said coldly. "I want his daughter. Bring her here—or I kill him."
Lara raised her gun, eyes locked on him. "Who are you? Why do you want her?"
"It has nothing to do with you," he snapped. "Bring the girl, Lara."
Before he could finish, two of his men lunged for her.
They never reached her.
Both went down in seconds.
"Lara!" Daisy's voice rang out as she and Rain rushed in. "The man in front of you—that's Nick!"
Lara froze.
Her eyes widened.
So did his.
"No," she whispered. "It can't be him."
"It is Nick," Rain said grimly, stepping beside her.