The roof air whipped her coat behind her as she stared outside the city.
Selene lit a cigarette, something she has not done in many years The taste was bitter. But bitter fit tonight.
She'd told Cam to find Darius.
She didn't ask what Cam would do once he did.
That wasn't the kind of question she liked answers to.
Her phone buzzed.
It was cam: "Target sighted. He's not moving. Sitting on 7th and Holly, alone. No heat. No tails." he said.
She exhaled slowly.
If he wanted to run, he could've. He hadn't.
He was waiting.
Waiting for her.
Selene crushed the cigarette under her heel and turned.
He didn't flinch when she parked beside him.
Didn't look surprised either.
"You bring a gun?" he asked.
She cut the engine. "I bring two."
Darius nodded once, eyes forward. "Makes sense."
For a moment, they just sat there. Silent. The city moved around them like they were ghosts.
"Why here?" she finally asked.
"This corner's always quiet," he said. "No cameras. No eyes."
"Perfect spot for a hit."
His lips twitched. "Or a goodbye."
Selene reached into her coat, pulled out the flash drive.
Dropped it into his lap.
"You gave them everything," she said. "My name. My business. The layout of my club."
"I know."
"You even wrote 'soft target' in the first report."
"I didn't know you then."
Her voice cracked. "You knew enough."
He looked at her now. "And I changed the last report. You read it."
"I read it," she said. "You disobeyed orders. You spared me. That's not love. That's hesitation."
"I didn't spare you," he said, voice low. "I chose you."
Selene shook her head. "You're still a plant."
"I was."
"You still lied."
"I did."
Her breath hitched. "You still love me?"
"Yes."
There was silence.
It was Real, Heavy. Like grief.
"Then what the hell should we do?" She asked.
He looked at her. "We burn them first."
She laughed, humorless. "You want me to trust you again?"
"No," he said. "I want you to use me."
That pulled her eyes to his.
"You want revenge?" he asked. "I know every agent they've got in this city. Their habits. Their weaknesses."
"And what, we just flip the game?"
"Why not?" he said. "You already run an empire. Just aim higher."
Selene watched him. "You offering yourself as tribute?"
"I'm offering myself as a weapon."
She leaned back. "And if I say no?"
"Then I disappear. For real this time."
Selene closed her eyes.
There was something so dangerous in his stillness. He wasn't begging. He wasn't performing.
He was laying down the only piece of himself he hadn't already surrendered.
His loyalty.
She didn't trust it.
But she needed it.
Back at Velvet Vice, she moved like a storm behind glass.
Cam met her at the back stairs. "Well?"
"He's with us," she said.
"You sure about that?"
"No."
Cam looked pissed. "You know I'd kill for you, Boss."
"I know," she said. "But not this one. Not yet."
He lowered his voice. "You saw the file."
"I did."
"You still think he's worth the risk?"
She didn't answer.
She didn't have to.
Inside her office, Darius was already waiting.
A map of the city on the table. Red markers. Names. Notes.
She stepped in. "Working fast."
"No time to waste," he said. "If the DEA pulls the trigger, they won't knock twice."
Cam stayed at the door, arms crossed.
Darius pointed to a spot on the map. "This storage lot is a holding point. Low surveillance. Full of unlogged inventory."
Selene leaned over the table. "That where they move product?"
"And people," he said. "Dirty cops. Bought judges. It's a nest."
"And you were part of that nest."
He met her eyes. "I know where it rots."
Cam snorted. "Still smells like a rat to me."
Selene raised a hand. "Enough."
She studied the layout. "If we hit this, they'll feel it."
"They'll retaliate," Darius warned.
"I'm counting on it," she said.
"Why?"
"Because sometimes it's better when your enemies show their faces."
That night, she stood on the balcony above the main stage.
Velvet Vice pulsed with music, lights, and sin.
But Selene saw none of it.
She saw the war she was walking into.
She saw Darius down below, helping run security like he'd never betrayed her.
She saw herself reflected in the mirror across the club.
And she barely recognized the woman staring back.
Boss Lady.
The name didn't feel powerful tonight.
It felt like a warning.
The first call came in at 2:47 a.m.
Gunfire.
A stash house hit.
Selene's men injured.
No survivors.
She ended the call, already moving.
Cam grabbed his jacket. "They're coming fast."
"Let them," she said.
Darius was already ahead of them, keys in hand.
He looked at her. "This was the opening shot."
Selene nodded. "Then we give them a finale."
They pulled up to the lot just after 3:15 a.m.
Dark.
Dead quiet.
Except it wasn't.
Selene felt it before she heard it.
Movement.
Breathing.
They were surrounded.
She turned to Darius. "They knew."
He didn't blink. "So did I."
"Meaning?"
"I leaked the time."
Her eyes widened. "You what?"
"I had to," he said. "To draw them out. They won't show unless they think they've got you cornered."
"And do they?"
He stepped closer. "Not even close."
Just then, headlights flared.
Five SUVs.
Selene's heart kicked.
Cam raised his weapon. "Orders?"
Selene breathed out slowly. "Stand down."
Cam didn't lower his gun.
Selene repeated, "Stand down."
He obeyed, but only barely.
One of the SUVs opened.
The agent from before stepped out.
Same smug smile.
"Miss Vale," he said. "Fancy meeting you here."
"You came armed to a negotiation," she said.
"You came with a traitor," he replied, pointing at Darius.
Selene stepped forward. "He's mine now."
The agent laughed. "That's not how this works."
"It is now."
The agent cocked his head. "You really think you can frighten me?"
"No," she responded quietly, "I believe I can kill you."
Before he could speak, three more cars pulled up behind him.
Selene's cars.
Her men.
Outnumbering him.
She watched his smile fade.
"You think you've got power," she said. "You don't."
He looked at Darius. "You really think she won't kill you too, when it's done?"
Darius said nothing.
Just stepped closer to Selene.
The agent turned back to her. "This isn't over tonight."
"No," she replied. "It ends next time."
He hesitated.
Then signaled retreat.
They drove off.
Selene stood still until the last taillight vanished.
Only then did she look at Darius.
"You better be right about this."
"I usually am," he said.
Selene stepped closer.
Her voice dropped. "If you ever lie to me again…"
"I won't."
She stared at him.
Then pulled him into a kiss so sharp it bordered on violence.
He took hold of her hips. Hers tangled in his hair.
It wasn't sweet.
It wasn't tender.
It was punishment.
It was claiming.
It was war dressed up as want.
And just as fast, she pulled away.
Eyes burning.
"You want to help me burn this empire?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Then let's make it hurt."
She turned, walking toward her car.
Darius followed.
But behind them, unseen on a nearby rooftop, a sniper adjusted their scope.
Watching.
Waiting.
And smiling.