CHAPTER 26

Lights flicker.

Lina lifts her head.

The holding level hums low, metal walls breathing with the estate’s power grid. The air smells like cold steel and recycled air.

Then—

An explosion, Dust shifts from the ceiling.

Lina closes her eyes.

It’s too soon… she whispers.

Another blast. Closer.

Boots thunder above her.

Not the estate guards.

She stands before anyone tells her to.

The emergency lights snap red.

Screams echo through the corridor.

Then the door at the end of the holding wing blows inward.

Smoke floods the hall.

Black figures move through it.

They don’t shout her name.

They already know where she is.

—

Upstairs—

Kael runs.

The corridor blurs past him.

Red lights.

Gunfire.

A body drops near the stairwell.

Aaron keeps pace beside him. “Lower level’s compromised.”

Kael doesn’t answer.

Another explosion hits below.

The floor trembles, They’re not here for Vera.

They’re here for Lina.

—

Door slams open.

Gun smoke in the air.

Vera standing, Body at her feet.

Kael stops short

Their eyes lock.

Another explosion below.

They’re not here for you, he says.

She nods once. “I know.”

She hands him the weapon she picked up from the fallen guard.

Grip steady.

They went down,she adds.

He studies her for half a second.

Stay behind me.

“No.”

He doesn’t argue.

They move, Together.

—

The stairwell reeks of smoke and burned wiring.

Two guards lie crumpled near the landing.

Aaron signals three men forward.

Kael doesn’t slow.

Vera moves to the side wall, scanning angles before Kael does.

He notices.

Says nothing.

They hit the lower corridor at the same time.

One attacker rounds the corner—

Vera fires first.

Clean shot.

Center mass.

He drops.

Kael doesn’t look surprised.

He shifts left, takes down another before the man can raise his weapon.

Aaron’s team flanks.

Bodies fall.

The smoke thinns enough to see the holding wing door hanging off its hinges.

Kael’s instincts sharpen.

Positions, he orders.

They move in.

—

Lina stands in the center of the corridor.

Two attackers lie at her feet.

One of them isn’t dead, He’s crawling toward her.

Kael shoots him without breaking stride.

Lina flinches, But not the way someone surprised would.

Her eyes flick past Kael, To the exit.

Quick

Almost hopeful

Then gone.

Vera sees it.

So does Aaron.

The remaining attackers retreat deeper into the maintenance tunnels.

Not fleeing.

Repositioning.

Kael signals pursuit.

Aaron takes half the men and disappears into the smoke.

Kael steps toward Lina.

“You’re not hurt.”

She shakes her head.

“They came fast, she says. I didn’t even hear—”

Kael studies her.

You heard something, Vera says quietly.

Lina’s gaze snaps at her.

“I—no. I was asleep.”

Another explosion shakes the building.

Not outside, Inside the ventilation shafts.

Diversion.

Kael’s jaw tightens.

They’re trying to split us, Vera says.

He nods once.

Upstairs, he orders two guards. Seal every access point.”

They drag the wounded attackers away.

Lina’s breathing grows uneven

Kael sees it, “Move her,” he says.

They escort Lina toward the secured wing.

Halfway up the stairs—

Gunfire erupts from behind.

Aaron’s voice over comms. “Tunnel breach. They’re falling back. Leaving something behind.”

Kael doesn’t like the sound of that, they reach the main hall.

Smoke thins.

Bodies scattered, Estate security regaining control.

Vera steps closer to him, Close enough to speak without being heard.

They weren’t here to win, she says.

“I know.”

They were testing,

“Yes.”

And confirming,

His eyes flick to her

Confirming what?

That she’s still here.

He looks toward Lina.

She stands between two guards.

Head down.

Aaron reappears from the lower corridor, face tight, Most of them are dead, Two escaped through the maintenance exit.

Kael nods once.

Aaron’s gaze shifts to Lina.

Something unsettled there.

“What?” Kael asks.

Aaron hesitates, How?

I mean how?.... They were so coordinated, the tactics, where to go,the building exist, Is just as if they've been here before, how.....how is it possible?

Kael steps forward.

Everyone quiets.

Search her, he says calmly.

Lina’s head snaps up, What?......“Why?” I don't understand why should they search me.....I.....I....I didn't do anything.....

He doesn’t answer.

Two guards move in.

She takes a step back.

“Kael—”

“Now.”

They begin checking her jacket.

Her boots.

Her sleeves.

Nothing.

Lina exhales slightly,

Relief.

Too soon.

Aaron crouches near her left side.

His fingers press along the inner seam of her shirt.

He pauses.

Looks up at Kael.

Then carefully tears the stitching open.

Something small drops into his palm.

Metal.

Black.

Blinking.

A transmitter.

The hall goes still.

No one speaks.

Lina’s face drains color.

wait.... i...I can explain—”

Kael raises his hand.

Silence.

He steps closer, Not rushed,

Not angry

How long? he asks.

She shakes her head. “It wasn’t supposed to—”

How long? he repeats.

Her eyes fill, But not with guilt.

Vera watches her carefully.

The earlier whisper.

It’s too soon.

Now it makes sense.

They weren’t rescuing Lina.

They were activating her.

Aaron straightens slowly.

“They never lost her,” he says quietly.

Kael’s gaze never leaves Lina’s face.

“No,” he agrees.

“They didn’t.”

The transmitter blinks once.

Twice.

Active.

Broadcasting.

Location confirmed.

Inside his walls.

Lina’s voice cracks. “They said they wouldn’t hurt anyone if I just—”

Kael steps closer.

Close enough that she has to tilt her head up to meet his eyes.

“And you believed them?”

She doesn’t answer.

Because there isn’t one.

Around them, the estate hums back to life.

Power stabilizing.

Security locking down.

Too late for secrecy.

The confirmation has already gone out.

Kael turns to Aaron.

“Shut every signal in this building down. I want silence.”

Aaron moves instantly.

Kael looks back at Lina.

The softness she once relied on isn’t there.

You brought them to my door,” he says.

She shakes her head. “I didn’t know they’d breach—”

“But you knew they were coming.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Truth setting in...

Vera steps forward slightly.

Not defending,

Not accusing,

Lina’s shoulders shake.

“They told me if I didn’t cooperate they would come for her next.”

And u believed them?....after everything we've been through.... or did u forget??? Vera asked

Kael’s voice drops lower.

“They already came.”

He takes the transmitter from Aaron’s hand.

Crushes it beneath his boot

The blinking dies.

But the damage doesn’t.

He looks at Lina one last time.

Cold.

“Take her to the basement" he orders.

Two guards move to escort her.

She doesn’t resist.

She doesn’t fight.

Because now she understands something she didn’t before.

She isn’t their property.

And she isn’t his.

She’s leverage, And leverage breaks.

As she’s led away, Aaron speaks quietly.

“We need to Move”

Kael watches the corridor where she disappeared.

“Yes.”

Vera stands beside him.

The air between them charged.

Different now.

No longer just survival, Something different, something she can't put hand on yet.

He turns slightly toward her.

They were never here for you

"I know.”

What no

Kael’s expression hardens.

“Now, We prepare for them

In the silence that follows, everyone understands.

The first attack wasn’t meant to win.

And Lina—,

She....she was never the hostage, but I don't understand...how did they get to her? "Vera asked"