The rain had finally stopped when they flew back to New York
But peace didn't return with them
Damon kept looking out the window of the jet
His fingers tapping lightly against the glass
Emma sat beside him
Watching him carefully
Leo leaned forward from the seat across
Interpol's keeping her locked down
Her assets are frozen
But someone else was moving in the shadows
Hale's records had backdoors
Encrypted channels we missed before
Emma looked up
What do you mean
Leo opened his laptop
Typed quickly
Lines of data flew past the screen
There's someone else
Older
Smarter
Higher than Hale
We thought Hale was the head of the organization
He wasn't
Damon turned slowly
Who is it
Leo looked at him
Then opened a picture file
The man in the photo had silver hair
Wore a white suit
And smiled like the devil himself
Emerson Vale
Emma's eyes widened
That's impossible
He died years ago in a plane crash
Leo nodded slowly
That's what the world thinks
But he faked it
And now he's back
Damon stood
His voice like stone
Where is he
Leo paused
We traced a shipment
Weapons
Marked with Vale's old signature
Destination
New York
Emma stood too
He's here
Leo nodded
He's coming for something
Or someone
They landed silently
No press
No guards
Everything was off the books
At the penthouse
Emma changed quickly
Black jeans
Fitted jacket
Tied her hair back
Damon sat at the old bar in the corner
The same place he had first kissed her
Now it felt like another lifetime
He looked at her
Are you ready for war
She walked over
Took his hand
With you
Always
Leo entered with a secure phone
We have a lead
He's hosting an auction
Tomorrow night
Exclusive
Private
Invite-only
Weapons
Secrets
People
Emma felt the ice slide down her spine
Human trafficking
Leo nodded
And he listed a very specific name on the catalogue
One that doesn't belong to any known hostage
Emma Sinclair
Damon's fists clenched so tight blood rose under his knuckles
He wants you
He's using you as bait
Emma didn't blink
Then let him
Leo hesitated
We can't just walk in
Damon was already reaching for his phone
We don't walk in
We own it
Buy the building
Buy the people running it
Control the cameras
Set the trap
Emma touched his arm
We let him see what he wants to see
Then we end it
The next night the air inside the underground venue was heavy
Men in suits
Silent guards
Gleaming lights
And behind it all
The whisper of unspeakable deals
Emma wore a deep crimson gown
Her expression unreadable
She walked through the crowd like a queen walking to war
Damon followed
His eyes scanning every shadow
Leo watched from the control room
Every camera wired into his laptop
Then they saw him
Emerson Vale
Older
But not weaker
He laughed with a group of foreign diplomats
Raised a glass like he owned the world
And then
He turned
And saw Emma
His smile didn't falter
But something in his eyes changed
He walked over slowly
Offered his hand
Emma Sinclair
The girl who was supposed to disappear
She didn't shake it
Guess you underestimated me
Vale grinned wider
Or maybe I wanted you to survive
Long enough to see how little your survival matters
Damon stepped forward
Touch her
And you die
Vale laughed
Ah
The cold-hearted Damon King
I heard you had a soft spot now
Shame
I liked you better broken
Emma spoke before Damon could move
You made a mistake
You showed your face
Now the world will bury you
Vale leaned in
Whispered so only she could hear
You think you've won
But I own more than you can imagine
I don't die in shadows
I thrive in them
Suddenly the lights went out
Gunfire erupted
Leo's voice shouted in their earpieces
He had backup
Get out now
But Emma didn't move
She grabbed Damon's wrist
This ends now
They chased Vale through the back corridors
Bullets flying
Screams behind them
Shadows moved like ghosts
Leo redirected security
Locked every exit except one
Vale reached the rooftop
The city lights behind him
Helicopter blades above
Damon tackled him before he could board
They fought hard
Brutal
Fast
No words
Only pain
Vale pulled a knife
Slashed Damon's shoulder
Blood soaked into his shirt
But Damon didn't stop
He drove Vale back
Punch after punch
Until the man stumbled
Lost balance
Emma raised the stolen gun
You won't hurt anyone else
Vale looked at her
Blood down his face
Then do it
She didn't hesitate
One shot
Clean
Right through the heart
He fell
And didn't move again
Sirens howled in the distance
Police
FBI
The cleanup began
Emma dropped the gun
Damon pulled her into his arms
Blood
Rain
Silence
You're safe
He whispered
She buried her face in his chest
We're safe
Leo reached them seconds later
Breathless
It's over
We exposed everything
His accounts
His partners
It's all gone
Damon looked at the horizon
And for once
The darkness didn't feel endless