The sirens faded, but the tension didn't.
Julian stood at the wide window of his penthouse, hands clasped behind his back, watching Lagos glow beneath him like a living thing. Beautiful. Dangerous. Alive. The kind of city that swallowed secrets whole.
Ife remained where she was, breathing slow, forcing calm into her veins.
She had crossed a line.
And Julian felt it.
"You know," he said casually, "I used to believe loyalty could be bought."
He turned to face her, eyes sharp. "Turns out, it can only be borrowed."
Her heart thudded. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying," he stepped closer, voice low, "someone inside my walls decided to play hero."
She met his gaze. "And you think it's me."
"I don't think," Julian said softly. "I feel."
That scared her more than shouting ever could.
He reached out, fingers lifting her chin gently. "If it was you, Ife, it would break my heart."
She swallowed. "Then don't look."
For a second, something real flickered across his face.
Then it vanished.
"Get dressed," he said, dropping his hand. "You're coming with me."
Arden didn't sleep.
He sat in the dark, phone clenched in his hand, replaying Ife's last message from weeks ago. Short. Careful. Safe.
Too safe.
Victor paced the room. "If she leaked that ledger, Julian will test her."
Arden's jaw tightened. "He already is."
"And if she fails?"
Arden stood abruptly. "Then I burn everything."
Victor stopped. "You'll start a war."
Arden turned, eyes blazing. "This isn't a war. It's a rescue."
Victor hesitated. "Your father warned you."
"My father sent me here to hide," Arden snapped. "I'm done hiding."
Julian's convoy cut through traffic like royalty.
Ife sat beside him in the back seat, hands folded, mind racing.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"To see something you need to understand," Julian replied.
They arrived at an unfinished high-rise near the lagoon. Concrete skeleton. Open air. Too exposed.
That was when she saw them.
Three men.
On their knees.
Beaten.
Her breath caught. "Julian…"
He leaned close, whispering, "This is what betrayal looks like."
One of the men lifted his head—and Ife felt the world tilt.
Tomi.
Alive. Bruised. Bloody.
Her knees nearly buckled.
Julian watched her carefully. "You know him."
She forced herself to breathe. "I've seen him before."
Julian smiled coldly. "Liar."
He gestured. One of the guards raised a gun.
"No!" The word tore out of her before she could stop it.
Silence fell.
Julian turned slowly. "Interesting reaction."
She stepped forward. "Please. If you want loyalty—this isn't the way."
Julian studied her, eyes narrowing.
"Then teach me," he said.
She swallowed hard. "You don't punish to inspire fear. You punish to remove threats. These men are already broken."
Julian considered this.
Then he laughed.
A sharp, humorless sound.
"You're smarter than I gave you credit for," he said. "Fine."
He nodded to the guards. "Let them live."
Relief crashed through her so hard her legs shook.
But Julian wasn't finished.
"Except one," he added calmly. "So the lesson sticks."
Her heart dropped.
Julian turned—to Tomi.
"Choose," he said to Ife. "Which one dies."
Across the city, Arden's phone buzzed.
A blocked number.
A single photo.
Tomi. On his knees.
A message followed.
Come alone. Or she chooses who dies.
Arden didn't hesitate.
Victor grabbed his arm. "This is a trap."
"I know," Arden said.
"You won't survive."
Arden pulled free. "Neither will he."
Back at the site, Ife trembled.
Julian watched her with fascination. "Power always asks for payment."
Tears filled her eyes. "If you make me do this, you lose me."
Julian paused.
That hit.
For the first time, uncertainty crept in.
Before he could answer—
Gunshots echoed in the distance.
Chaos exploded.
Arden's voice rang out across the concrete.
"Step away from her."
Julian turned slowly, smiling like a man greeting fate.
"Well," he said. "Love really is inconvenient."
Ife's breath left her in a sob as Arden met her eyes.
Alive.
Here.
And ready to burn the world.