Friday night settled over London like a velvet shroud. The De-Light mansion gleamed beneath the stars, sprawling gardens lit by lanterns and the laughter of the city's elite.
Inside, the air was thick with champagne bubbles and whispered secrets. Jade moved through the crowd with a grace that drew eyes but hid a razor-sharp purpose beneath her silken gown. The black mask she wore wasn't just for the masquerade—it was her armor.
Kelz stayed close, blending in seamlessly, his gaze flickering between the glimmering chandeliers and the dangerous faces of Lauren, Jayden, and Louis. The trio dominated the room like royalty, surrounded by sycophants and business magnates.
Jade's heart pounded, not from fear, but anticipation.
She remembered the footage—the cold cruelty behind their charming smiles. Tonight, she would begin to dismantle their empire.
Her first step was the private study where Lauren conducted his shadow deals. With Kelz as her lookout, she slipped inside, eyes scanning for the hidden safe she had learned about through months of investigation.
Behind a false panel, the safe's cold metal greeted her fingertips. The code was burned into her memory from stolen files.
*3-1-7-9.*
The door swung open, revealing stacks of documents, ledgers, and a pistol that gleamed under the soft light.
Jade took the files—evidence of money laundering, bribery, and illegal arms deals—and stuffed them into a small bag.
Suddenly, a voice echoed behind her.
"Looking for something, Jade?"
Lauren stood in the doorway, mask pulled back, his smile venomous.
"You shouldn't have come back," he hissed.
Jade turned slowly, eyes fierce. "I'm not here to play games."
Lauren stepped closer, but Kelz appeared beside her, his hand gripping a knife.
The room froze—the hunter and the hunted locked in a deadly dance beneath the glittering chandeliers.
Outside, the party raged on, unaware the night's darkest game had just begun.
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