Midnight – Near London's Industrial District
The SUV screeched to a halt under a blanket of mist. Ivy jumped out before the engine fully died, her heart pounding like a drumline. Aiden stepped beside her, bulletproof vest in place, gun holstered beneath his coat.
She'd never seen him like this. Ruthless. Unshaken.
"We go in quiet," Aiden told his team, scanning the warehouse. "If we don't find her within ten minutes, we pull back and go to Plan B."
"What's Plan B?" Ivy asked.
"Make noise."
He turned to her then, eyes sharp. "You stay here. This isn't—"
"I'm not staying behind."
"Ivy—"
"She's in there because of me. I'm going."
For a heartbeat, it looked like he might argue. But then he nodded, tight and grim. "Stay behind me. No hero moves."
Inside the Warehouse
The darkness inside was thick, the silence worse. They moved through corridors of rusted metal and broken glass. Ivy's boots crunched with each step, but she didn't flinch.
Then they heard it—a weak cough. Muffled.
Aiden raised his fist. His men froze.
He moved to the door and opened it slowly. Inside, bound to a chair with bloodied wrists, was Maddie.
Ivy gasped and ran to her. "Maddie—oh God."
Maddie's eyes fluttered open. "Took you… long enough."
"I'm sorry," Ivy whispered, cutting her free.
Maddie winced. "They're setting a trap. There's more coming. You have to—"
Gunfire ripped through the air.
"Down!" Aiden shouted, grabbing Ivy and pulling her to the ground.
His men returned fire as shadows burst from the far end of the warehouse. Ivy pulled Maddie to cover, shielding her as bullets struck the steel crates around them.
Aiden pulled a sidearm, calm under pressure, calculating. "We're not outrunning this."
"What now?" Ivy yelled.
He looked at her. "Now we burn this place down."
Moments Later – Chaos
Aiden's team planted explosives as they fought their way through the exit. Ivy held Maddie's arm over her shoulder, guiding her through a back door. They barely cleared the fence when the explosion ripped through the air.
Flames surged into the night sky. The warehouse crumbled, smoke curling into the stars.
But Ivy wasn't watching the destruction. She was staring at Maddie, whose face was pale.
"You're safe now," she said softly.
"No," Maddie croaked. "You're still not. They'll never stop."
Two Hours Later – Safehouse in Surrey
Maddie slept in the room next to Leo. Ivy sat outside on the porch, staring at the moon. Her hands were still trembling.
Aiden joined her, two mugs of coffee in hand.
"You were reckless," he said quietly.
"I saved her."
He handed her a mug. "You're not a soldier."
"I never wanted to be." Her voice cracked. "But I'll do whatever it takes to protect them. Maddie. Leo. Even you."
He looked at her, something soft flickering in his eyes.
"You think I'm reckless," she added. "But I've lived a life where every moment was a gamble. Loving someone like you? That's the biggest risk of all."
His jaw clenched. "