Location: Cascella – Vincent Blaire's Private Estate
The estate loomed like a forgotten fortress, veiled behind layers of tropical mist and manned by guards who didn't wear uniforms—but each carried the silence of ex-soldiers trained to kill without question. Floodlights swept the grounds as Damien's jet touched down miles away under a false flight ID.
Inside the main building, Vincent poured two glasses of dark scotch, his every movement deliberate. Harold sat rigid on a leather chair across the room, eyes following Vincent like a man half-prepared for betrayal.
"You've built something elegant, Vincent," Harold said, voice guarded. "But Damien Lane won't fall into your web so easily. He's... different."
Vincent tilted his glass, gaze sharpening. "Everyone thinks they're different. Until they bleed."
Harold swallowed hard, the drink untouched in his hand. "And if he brings the council with him? Tavara's elite won't stand idle if he signals a full-scale threat."
Vincent turned, walking toward the wall. A single touch opened a hidden compartment revealing monitors—live feeds of Tavara's parliament, surveillance files, personal blackmail dossiers.
"I already have four councilmen in my pocket," he said. "And the fifth is one scandal away from exile."
He looked back. "By the time Damien moves, I'll own Tavara's future."
---
Location: Nearby Safehouse – Cascella Outskirts
Nora leaned against the map board, brow furrowed. "He's not just playing with fire. He's building a forest of it."
Damien moved beside her, adjusting the tactical blueprint. "There's a secondary tunnel route under Blaire's estate. Old intelligence says it was used during the smuggling era. Logan's team will move in through the southern ridge at 03:00."
Nora turned to face him fully. "And you?"
"I'm going in first. Alone."
She stiffened. "Damien—"
"I know what I'm doing," he interrupted. "I want him to look me in the eyes before I tear everything he built apart."
Her expression shifted—fear flickering beneath her defiance. "And if it's a trap?"
He stepped closer, brushing her cheek with the back of his fingers. "Then I make sure I'm the one setting it."
Nora gripped his wrist. "Come back to me. No hero plays. Just... come back."
Damien smiled softly, then reached into his coat and placed a small tracker into her palm.
"If I don't move for more than ten minutes, trigger the secondary breach. No hesitation."
She looked down at the device, then at him. "We've survived worse. We'll survive this too."
---
Location: Vincent Blaire's Estate – Underground Level
An alarm blinked once on Vincent's tablet.
"Motion—north tunnel," one of his men warned.
Vincent smiled without looking up. "He's here. Right on time."
Harold stood abruptly. "You let him come?"
Vincent drained the last of his scotch. "No, Harold. I invited him."
He turned to the camera feed showing Damien moving with precision, eyes scanning every angle.
"This is where the king takes his last step... and the new empire begins."