Sienna's POV
Your choice, ladies, Marcus called through the darkness. Victoria comes with me, or Damien dies in the next thirty seconds.
I felt Victoria trembling beside me, her pregnant belly pressed against the crate we hid behind. One phone call from Marcus and Damien would be dead. A car accident. A gas leak. A heart attack that wasn't really a heart attack.
Marcus had killed six women. What was one more man?
Twenty seconds, Marcus said pleasantly.
Victoria started to stand. I yanked her back down.
Don't, I whispered.
He'll kill Damien—
He's bluffing. Damien's worth more alive right now. I pulled out my phone, typing fast to ARTEMIS. Trust me.
Ten seconds.
My phone buzzed. ARTEMIS's response: Damien currently at penthouse. No hostile movement detected. Marcus is alone. Bluff probability: 94%.
I stood up, pulling Victoria with me.
Marcus smiled when he saw us—that same warm uncle smile I'd trusted my whole life. There you are. Victoria, come here, dear.
No, I said.
His smile faded. Excuse me?
You heard me. She's not going anywhere with you. I stepped in front of Victoria, putting my body between them. Your bluff failed, Uncle. Damien's safe at home. You came here alone because you wanted to see what we'd do. Well, here we are. What now?
Marcus studied me with cold calculation. You've changed, Sienna. Harder. More like me than you used to be.
Dying does that to a person.
I'm genuinely impressed you survived. The yacht explosion should have been foolproof. He said it like discussing a failed business deal. How did you manage it?
Spite, mostly. Turns out being murdered by family is excellent motivation.
I didn't murder you. I simply convinced Damien that you were a threat to everything he'd built. He made his own choice.
You manipulated him into killing me!
I showed him the truth—that your prosecutor's ethics would destroy us both. What he did with that information was entirely his decision. Marcus shrugged. Damien has always been easy to control. Fear of losing what he's built, fear of being powerless again. Push the right buttons and he'll do anything.
Beside me, Victoria made a small, hurt sound.
Like putting women in his path? I asked. Women you could control? How many assets have you placed over the years, Marcus?
Enough. Victoria here has been particularly useful. Excellent at gathering intelligence, good in social situations, convincing as a devoted wife. He looked at her with the warmth a farmer might show livestock. I was actually hoping you'd last longer. Six months pregnant with his heir—you should have been safe for at least another year.
What changed? Victoria asked, her voice shaking.
You met Sienna. Started asking dangerous questions. Accessing files you shouldn't have. Marcus sighed. You were supposed to be controllable. Instead, you became a liability.
Like the six women before her? I pulled out my phone, showing him the photos. Did you tell them they were liabilities before you killed them?
Most didn't know it was coming. Cleaner that way. He checked his watch. This has been illuminating, but I have an early meeting. Victoria, you have two options: come with me now, or I'll have someone collect you tomorrow. Either way, you're not keeping those server copies you've been hiding.
Victoria gasped. How did you—
Please. I've had your devices monitored since day one. I know about your three backup locations. The cloud storage will be deleted by morning. The physical drives will be retrieved. And your lawyer friend—what was her name? Jennifer?—will receive a very convincing call from you saying you've changed your mind about the insurance policy.
You can't—
I absolutely can. You're Asset Number Seven, Victoria. You belong to me until I decide you don't. He turned to leave. Oh, and Sienna? Destroying Damien's company is amusing, but ultimately pointless. I own controlling interest through shell corporations. When Zhao Technologies collapses, I'll buy the pieces and rebuild. You're burning down a house I already sold.
He walked toward the exit.
I looked at Victoria—terrified, pregnant, trapped. Just like I'd been three years ago when I thought marriage meant safety.
Some cycles needed breaking.
Victoria, I said quietly. Do you want to survive this?
She met my eyes. Nodded.
Then trust me. Just this once.
I raised my voice. ARTEMIS, execute Protocol Phoenix.
Marcus stopped walking.
Every phone in the warehouse lit up—Marcus's, Victoria's, mine. Alert notifications screamed simultaneously.
Marcus pulled out his phone, his face going pale in the blue light.
What did you do? he whispered.
Released everything. Every file Victoria copied from your server. Every transaction record. Every shell company. Every dead woman. Fifteen years of espionage and murder, uploaded to every major news outlet, the FBI, the SEC, and—my personal favorite—the Chinese intelligence services you've been double-crossing.
His hands shook. You're bluffing.
ARTEMIS, confirm distribution.
The AI's voice came through my phone's speaker: Protocol Phoenix executed successfully. 847 files distributed to 23 agencies and media outlets. Encryption broken on Marcus Chen's personal communications. Current downloads: 1,247 and climbing.
Marcus lunged at me.
Adrian emerged from the shadows behind him, pressing a gun to Marcus's spine. Don't.
Adrian? Victoria gasped.
My insurance policy, I explained. Never go to a meeting with a murderer alone.
Marcus's phone buzzed frantically—calls, texts, alerts. His empire crumbling in real time.
You've killed us all, Marcus said. Those files implicate Damien too. Zhao Technologies' entire foundation is exposed. You'll destroy your own husband!
Ex-husband. And yeah, probably. I looked at Victoria. Unless we offer prosecutors a deal. Full cooperation from Damien in exchange for immunity. He testifies against you, helps unravel fifteen years of espionage, and maybe—maybe—he doesn't go to prison.
Why would you save him? Marcus demanded. He tried to kill you!
I'm not saving him. I'm saving her. I pointed at Victoria. And the baby who doesn't deserve to grow up with both parents in prison or dead.
Victoria stared at me. You'd really do that? Offer Damien immunity?
If he cooperates completely. If he testifies. If he dismantles everything you built, Marcus, brick by brick. I smiled at my uncle. Redemption's possible. Even for murderers. But you? You're going to die in prison.
The evidence is circumstantial—
The evidence is your own files, in your own handwriting, with your own digital signature. I held up Victoria's phone. Thanks to your Asset Number Seven, who's been copying everything for months.
Marcus looked at Victoria with such hatred that Adrian pressed the gun harder into his back.
You betrayed me, Marcus said.
You were going to kill me! Victoria shot back. Kill me like you killed six women before me! I was trying to survive!
You should have accepted your role—
My role? Her voice rose. I'm a person, not an asset! Those six women were people! Sienna was your niece and you tried to murder her to cover your crimes!
She would have exposed everything—
Because it needed to be exposed! Victoria was crying now. You're a monster. You've been a monster for fifteen years and I was too scared to see it!
Sirens wailed in the distance. Getting closer.
FBI, Adrian confirmed, checking his phone. Got the tip about ten minutes ago. They'll be here in three.
Marcus's face went blank with shock. You called them before I even arrived.
I called them the moment Victoria showed me the server copies, I said. This whole meeting was just buying time until they got here.
You used me as bait? Victoria looked hurt.
I used us both as bait. But we're both walking out alive, which is better than Marcus's plan. I heard car doors slamming outside. Time to choose, Victoria. Come with me, or stay with him.
She didn't hesitate. Crossed the space between us and took my hand.
I choose survival.
Adrian kept his gun on Marcus until the FBI agents stormed in—twelve of them, heavily armed, looking for a serial killer and espionage mastermind.
They found him standing in a warehouse, surrounded by evidence of fifteen years of crimes.
Marcus Chen, the lead agent said. You're under arrest for conspiracy, espionage, and six counts of murder.
As they cuffed him, Marcus looked at me. This isn't over, Sienna. I have lawyers—
Your lawyers just got arrested too. ARTEMIS made sure of it. I smiled. Enjoy prison, Uncle. I hear it's hell for people who hurt women.
They dragged him away.
Victoria collapsed against me, sobbing. I held her—this stranger who carried my dead husband's child, this woman who'd risked everything to survive.
What happens now? she asked.
Now we go talk to Damien. Tell him his mentor's been arrested. Give him a choice: cooperate and maybe save himself, or go down with Marcus.
Do you think he'll choose us?
I have no idea. I helped her toward Adrian's car. But we're about to find out exactly what kind of man Damien Zhao really is.
My phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number.
Well played, niece. But you've just started a war you can't win. Marcus had partners. They'll come for you both now. Sleep well. -A Friend
I showed the message to Adrian.
We've got a problem, he said.
What kind of problem?
The kind where Marcus was just the tip of the iceberg. He pulled up files on his phone—more names, more shell companies, more connections. He wasn't working alone. There's a whole network of people who'll want revenge for what we just did.
Victoria's face went white. Oh God. I didn't think—if Marcus had partners—
Another text: Check the news. Your victory was very short-lived.
I pulled up CNN on my phone.
The headline made my blood freeze:
BREAKING: Key Evidence in Marcus Chen Case Ruled Inadmissible - Anonymous Tip May Have Violated Federal Law
Below it: Defense attorneys argue evidence was obtained illegally. Federal judge orders review. Suspect may be released pending investigation.
No, I whispered. No, no, no—
Adrian grabbed the phone. Read the article. Cursed.
Someone got to the judge. Fast. He looked at me. Sienna, Marcus could be out within hours.
But the evidence—
Doesn't matter if it can't be used in court. And if they rule it was obtained illegally... He trailed off.
Victoria finished the thought: Then he walks free. And he comes after us.
My phone rang. Damien's name flashed on the screen.
I answered. Damien—
Get Victoria somewhere safe. Now. His voice was panicked. I just got a call from Marcus's lawyer. They're releasing him. And Sienna, he knows where you live. Where Victoria lives. Where everyone you care about lives.
How long do we have?
Maybe two hours before he makes bail. After that... Damien's voice cracked. I'm so sorry. I didn't know how deep this went. I didn't know about the other women. About Victoria. About any of it.
Do you believe me now? About what Marcus is?
Yes. And I'm going to help you stop him. But first, you need to run.
I looked at Victoria—pregnant, terrified, shaking.
Then at Adrian—loyal, armed, ready for war.
I'm done running, I said. Marcus wanted to kill me three years ago? He should have made sure I stayed dead. Because now I'm coming for him. And this time, I'm not fighting alone.
I hung up.
Victoria stared at me. What do we do?
We do what Marcus never expected. I smiled grimly. We go on offense.
Adrian's phone buzzed. He checked it and his expression went dark.
Sienna. You need to see this.
He showed me security footage from the penthouse.
Three men in black tactical gear. Entering Damien's building.
Heading for Victoria's home.
The timestamp: two minutes ago.
They're already there, Adrian whispered. They're going to kill Damien.