The morning after the family gathering at Starfall Estate, Ethan stood alone in his private chambers, watching the sunrise paint the walls in shades of gold and amber.
The warmth of yesterday's laughter still lingered in his chest, but beneath it, a cold certainty had crystallized overnight. The Continental Intelligence Council's psychological warfare, the growing threats to everything he'd built, the weight of protecting not just his organization but his family—all of it demanded a response that went beyond reactive measures.
It was time to stop being hunted and start becoming the hunter.
Ethan closed his eyes and felt the familiar pulse of his system's enhanced awareness, but this time he reached deeper, accessing capabilities he'd been hesitant to fully utilize.
